Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Football Association's attempt to stage the 2006 World Cup finals received a boost yesterday when the English Sports Council announced that proceeds from the National Lottery could be used to bid for major sporting events.
The Lottery Sports Fund will contribute pounds 3m annually to a world-class events programme that hopes to attract more than 20 championships to Britain before the year 2000.
The FA is facing a bill of between pounds 8m and pounds 9m to fund their bid, but could still receive 35 per cent of that cost from the ESC according to Alec McGivan, the director of the FA's 2006 team.
"This is a great opportunity to get some additional funding to our bid. We always hoped for Sports Council help and we certainly welcome the announcement," he said. "We have already had one meeting with the Sports Council and we must have their full support. I have no doubt they will want to contribute." The FA would have to refund any grant from profits made at the World Cup.
The English Sports Council is expecting to receive applications from national governing bodies in the next fortnight, but will judge them strictly according to their profitability.
"The programme, along with our new facilities such as the National Stadium, is part of an overall plan for British sport," Derek Casey, the ESC chief executive, said. "We no longer have to rely on limited government grants, but are now able to attract showpiece events to all parts of the country by ourselves."
In recent years, Britain has attracted a range of world championships in minority sports, from cycling to table tennis, but most have been plagued by a lack of sponsorship and TV coverage. The new programme aims to rectify this, but will not be extended to events already assigned to the UK, including the 1999 cricket World Cup and 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
Today's news that National Lottery funds will be used to bid for and stage major international sports events was welcomed by the minister with responsibility for sport, Iain Sproat. "The announcement that at least pounds 3m each year will be available to attract major international events to the UK could mean that over 20 events might be on their way to Britain over the next three years," he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments