The hierarchy of sport-scotland must have felt as if they were being entertained to morning coffee by an undertaker yesterday when they were invited to Holyrood by Stewart Maxwell. It was the first meeting of the newly-appointed sports minister with Julia Bracewell, chair of the quango, and its chief executive Stewart Harris, since the arrival of the SNP administration on a manifesto which promised to abolish their organisation.
The party line is that Maxwell is doing the standard rounds of a new minister: just an introduction. Under the circumstances, however, former Olympic fencer Bracewell may have to display very nimble footwork to avoid taking a hit. And if she falls on her sword, sport could still take a haemorrhagic hit.
This is an era of unprecedented opportunity. The London Olympics have made more sport development funds available in Britain than at any time in history (£600m to 2012). With the chance of Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games, sport is higher up the agenda than ever before.
An Olympic Games just 400 miles from the central belt will offer Scots a matchless chance to compete, coach, officiate, spectate, or get involved as volunteers. Attempting to make the grade will stimulate and regenerate ambitions. It will present an unrivalled opportunity to promote health and education agendas.
This should not be compromised by political point-scoring.
Sport can't capitalise if it is poorly organised. As relocation equals reorganisation, it risks being disorganised. That is a concern over relocation to Glasgow, agreed before the SNP took control. During that relocation debate, the Nats properly highlighted best value. It is hard to argue that a headquarters relocated in Glasgow will save money. Some redundancy packages could run to more than £200,000 each, as they did when Scottish Natural Heritage relocated. Yet how does one balance this against the potential to regenerate disgraceful deprivation?
So will the move to Glasgow be aborted? No vote was taken on the issue, so none would be required to reverse it. Nor would one be needed over a policy decision to scrap it.
Glasgow, having committed huge funds to Scotland's biggest sport development, is entitled to know where it stands. The complex which will house the indoor arena and velodrome for the 2014 Commonwealths includes a new home for sportscotland. Another blueprint, minus these headquarters, was shelved when relocation approval was given. The SNP may send that back to the drawing board.
Glasgow is furious it may have to fight this battle again.
Abolishing sportscotland in itself would not necessarily be a disaster. That could be done simply by hanging up a new nameplate. The critical issue is what replaces it.
A sports ministry? Sportscotland staff could be subsumed en masse into a new Scottish Office department, and rebranded civil servants. That could still be in Glasgow, but office arrangements may leave scope for some to remain in Edinburgh: Bingo, no enforced relocation equals redundancy costs slashed.
The quango was established by royal charter. Dis-establishing it is surely not just about the symbolic appeal of snubbing Lizzie. The charter means it can't actually be axed, apparently, but they could just stop funding. This poses the next question: If sportscotland becomes a government department, achieving the SNP goal of accountability, who distributes lottery money? This is done currently by sportscotland on behalf of the Department of Culture Media and Sport, because it must be administered independent of government. The Welsh Assembly ran into problems when they tried to tinker with this mechanism.
There is a Scottish Executive national sport strategy. Sportscotland exists to ensure programmes are co-ordinated and delivered consistently. This must continue whether they exist or not. Governing bodies must continue to be advised and have their needs serviced. Delivery of resources from grass roots to the elite still has to be managed The SNP may argue that various independent agencies can do this. But they surely can't operate in silos. A co-ordinated pathway from participation to excellence is essential. It must embrace schools, governing bodies, local authorities, and clubs. There has to be a cohesive plan with a strategic overview.
Sportscotland advises on school recreation facilities. If they become a government department they can hardly be arbiters who tell their Scottish Executive bosses, funders of these projects, that their plans aren't up to scratch and must be changed.
It could be Scotland's blessing to find this window of opportunity open when SNP strength is at a peak. Or it could be a curse.
If sport becomes a game for political point-scoring, politicians, not sport, will be the only winners.
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