Athletes to get funding of up to £1,000 for off-island competitions

Thursday 12 December 2024

Athletes qualifying to represent Jersey in off-island competitions will have access to up to £1,000 a year to subsidise travel and "make sure their ambitions are not limited by our island's borders".

The States Assembly today voted to approve a proposition brought by Deputy Raluca Kovacs suggested that £500,000 of the Arts, Heritage and Culture budget be used to subsidise islanders representing Jersey in competitions.

The money would go to "world-class performers and achievers", said Deputy Kovacs.

"Current funding mechanisms fall very short of meeting their evolving needs," she explained.

"This is not just an investment in our people, it's an investment in Jersey's identity.

"Our achievers serve as role models, they inspire future generations and bring global recognition to our island. 

"We tell our youth to aim high, let's make sure their ambitions are not limited by our island's borders."

Pictured: Deputy Raluca Kovacs (Rob Currie)

To get the subsidy, athletes will have had to go through a qualification or selection process to represent the island.

Deputy Kovacs' initial proposition included artists and academics, and had a higher cap for each recipient at £2,000.

But an amendment brought by Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel focused the proposition on sport, made the scheme administered by Jersey Sport, and lowered the maximum grant to £1,000.

Deputy Monty Tadier questioned the use of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund for sports activities, though he supported the proposition.

"I think the money that's been allocated to culture, arts and heritage has already been subject to creative accounting, I've raised this issue before," he said.

"For example, I think that that fund is already £500,000-plus short by the way that the Treasury accounts for the money that goes into Economic Development, because Jèrriais is treated as funding for arts, culture and heritage when in fact, it's used to pay teachers. 

"A simple solution would simply be to increase the funding from Treasury to Economic Development."

Deputy Morel said he shared these concerns, along with concerns about ring-fenced funding.

But the States Assembly ultimately accepted the amended proposition with 43 voting in favour.

Pictured top: Steven Mackay was the final runner of the 4x100m men's relay team who won the Island Games relay race in 2023. (Rob Currie)