Mallin Basketball Review

[divingbrit]

Sport England welcomes the findings of the independent Mallin Basketball Review

The Mallin Basketball Review – which was requested by the sport – says increased investment and changes to the way the sport is administered is urgently needed to help significantly drive up participation and improve performance on the world-stage.

The Review says that England Basketball (EB), the national governing body for the sport, should be reformed to help basketball grow and get more people involved in the sport. If England Basketball (EB) chooses to face the challenges and implements the findings of the Review, Sport England alone will put £1.7 million of National Lottery funding per year into basketball via England Basketball (EB). This is more than three times the amount Sport England currently invests into the sport.

Derek Mapp, Chairman of Sport England, said:

“Basketball can reach out to young people in a way that other sports can’t.

The Review’s recommendations will bring a fresh impetus to the sport which is urgently needed. I want England Basketball to take this opportunity to build on the good work they have done to date. I hope they grab it with both hands”.

The independent review, chaired by Tony Mallin, began work in May 2006 with support from key organisations in the basketball community, including England Basketball.

With increased investment, a reformed England Basketball (EB) will focus on getting better facilities and coaches into schools and communities. England Basketball (EB) will also be urged to bring extra commercial investment into the sport to complement Government and Lottery funding.

Basketball has yet to establish itself as a mass participation sport in the UK like it is in France, Italy and Germany. Basketball ranked as the 18th most popular sport in England in Sport England’s Active People survey published last year. The Mallin Basketball Review gives the sport a chance to really build on its achievements to date.

Tony Mallin*, Review Group Chair, said:

“These recommendations directly address the challenges identified during the Review Group’s consultation. We must not lose time in implementing them if we wish to see a fundamental increase in participation and an improvement in the performance of basketball.”

Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe said:

"The Mallin Review outlines a welcome blueprint for the future success of basketball. It gives timely consideration to how the sport can use the 2012 Olympic Games to inspire the stars of tomorrow and ensure a golden generation of British basketball starts to emerge. I have every confidence that basketball can continue to grow and thrive as a national sport and have a real impact on our young people and local communities. It is now for basketball to take up this challenge to ensure it fulfils this potential and I look forward to seeing the fruits of this work in the coming months."

For further information, please contact Chris Rolfe, Press and PR Officer at Sport England, on 020 7273 1593.

* Tony Mallin is CEO and founder of STAR Capital Partners. He spent 20 years with Hambros Bank, latterly as vice chairman, and was a main board member of Hambros Plc. He is a past Chairman of the Finance and Leasing Association and has advised Government on PFI policy.

Notes to Editors:

1. The five key recommendations of the Mallin Basketball Review are:

England Basketball to appoint a high calibre Chairperson
Reform the Governing Body, England Basketball (EB)
Provide sufficient funding
England Basketball to grow sustainable grass roots participation
•Develop World-Class British Teams

2. Increased funding of £1.7 million per annum will be made available to England Basketball (EB) if they agree to implement the recommendations of the Mallin Basketball Review. This is nearly treble the amount of funding England Basketball will receive during 2007/08 via its Whole Sport Plan (£0.6 million).

3. To access a copy of the Mallin Basketball Review and for further information about the review, go to http://www.mallinbasketballreview.org