World Masters Games 2017 (WMG2017) continues to give back to amateur sport in Auckland, with 28 local sports organisations receiving a further grant from the WMG2017 Legacy Fund.
WMG2017 created a huge buzz when it was held in Auckland in April 2017, with more than 28,000 participants taking part – more than an Olympic Games.
The event generated $34.2m and 241,480 visitor nights for the Auckland regional economy and was declared the 'best ever' by the rights holder, the International Masters Games Association.
WMG2017 also generated an $831,000 surplus. The event's constitution required any surplus to be used for the promotion of amateur sport, with local organisations representing the 28 sports that made up WMG2017 benefiting through two rounds of grants.
Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED) General Manager Destination Steve Armitage says that funding for many sporting organisations is a perennial issue, so it's important that these grants continue to provide a lasting legacy for sport in Auckland.
"We're delighted that WMG2017 is able to provide some welcome financial support to the very core of amateur sport in New Zealand, the grass-roots, giving back to those organisations that were integral to the successful delivery of the Games."
Grants for the 28 sports organisations
The latest round of grants comes at the end of a two-month contestable application process. The 28 sports organisations were invited to request funding for activities that would benefit Auckland amateur sports such as bidding for and/or staging an event; capability building relating to events; infrastructure upgrades; purchasing sporting equipment; or strategic planning support.
A panel including representatives from ATEED, Auckland Council and Aktive – Auckland Sport & Recreation assessed the applications against criteria that included the benefit to sport in Auckland, the wider benefit to the community, and the ongoing legacy value that each initiative would have.
All 28 sports of WMG2017 made an application and all were successful, with funding awarded ranging from $10,000 to $15,400.
This follows an earlier round of direct grants awarded in April 2018 of between $8160 and $23,900, made up of a fixed portion of $6973 plus a pro rata amount based on the number of WMG participants for each sport. $50,000 was also directly granted to New Zealand Masters Games.
The following organisations have been allocated grants in each round:
- Archery NZ
- Athletics Auckland
- Badminton NZ
- Baseball NZ
- North Harbour Basketball
- Waka Ama NZ
- Cycling NZ
- Auckland Rugby
- Torbay Sailing Club
- Shooting NZ
- North Harbour Softball
- Squash NZ
- Surf Life Saving Northern Region
- Swimming NZ
- NZ Football
- NZ Golf
- Hockey NZ
- Bowls NZ
- Netball NZ
- Orienteering NZ
- Rowing NZ
- Auckland Table Tennis Association
- Tennis Northern
- Touch NZ
- Triathlon NZ
- Volleyball NZ
- Water polo NZ
- Olympic Weightlifting Auckland
Steve Armitage says, "This latest round of grants will be used on activities ranging from placing table tennis tables in public places to encourage people to be active, to a membership drive for Parafed Auckland Shooting Club that will focus on engaging with disabled young people, giving them an avenue to compete."
Other initiatives receiving grants include implementing a community touch project – a collaboration between Touch NZ and NZ Police to engage youth and families at risk in troubled communities through sport – and the complete refurbishment of 'Lady Waiake', the Torbay Sailing Club committee boat that is an integral part of club events and an icon of sailing in Auckland."
Steve Armitage says, "These grants will benefit Auckland and Aucklanders and will be put to good use.
"The World Masters Games motto is 'for the love of sport', and the organisations that have received grants demonstrated this both during WMG2017, and in the work they do to encourage people to be active and participate in sport every day."
