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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Reprieve for national sports body | Reprieve for national sports body |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scotland's national sports agency is set to win a partial reprieve, BBC Scotland understands. | Scotland's national sports agency is set to win a partial reprieve, BBC Scotland understands. |
| Sportscotland was due to be scrapped under a cull of quangos promised by the SNP when it took power in May. | Sportscotland was due to be scrapped under a cull of quangos promised by the SNP when it took power in May. |
| But it is believed ministers have been impressed by the argument that Scottish sport needs a single organisation to drive forward improvements. | But it is believed ministers have been impressed by the argument that Scottish sport needs a single organisation to drive forward improvements. |
| It is understood that a scaled-down agency will be retained to co-ordinate sport around the country. | It is understood that a scaled-down agency will be retained to co-ordinate sport around the country. |
| Sportscotland invests millions from the Scottish Government and the Lottery to improve facilities and extend the benefits of sport throughout the community. | |
| But it has faced challenges over its budget controls and over key targets that were missed. | But it has faced challenges over its budget controls and over key targets that were missed. |
| Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing SNP's former sports spokesman Michael Matheson | |
| It has been argued that with the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Glasgow and the London Olympics soaking up available cash, a national body should still be kept. | It has been argued that with the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Glasgow and the London Olympics soaking up available cash, a national body should still be kept. |
| The SNP's former sports spokesman, Michael Matheson, said: "The key policy that they were meant to implement was Sports 21. | |
| "They missed six of the 10 key targets that they were meant to achieve. | |
| "Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing. | |
| 'Exciting time' | |
| "It was not just the case that they actually failed to achieve them. There were a number of them where they actually regressed. | |
| "The problem got even worse in terms of participation levels." | |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie, said that the organisation should be retained. | |
| He said: "This should be an exciting time for sport in Scotland as Glasgow celebrates a successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Scottish athletes prepare to compete at the London Olympics in 2012. | |
| Government decision | |
| "Instead we have confusion and chaos surrounding the future of our national sports agency. | |
| "Sportscotland is of vital importance to Scottish sport - it provides advice, coordinates the delivery of sports policy and strategy and channels government and lottery money into sports. | |
| "The Scottish Government has yet to come up with a convincing reason for abolishing Sportscotland." | |
| Sports governing bodies have campaigned to keep Sportscotland after the SNP pledged to scrap it. | Sports governing bodies have campaigned to keep Sportscotland after the SNP pledged to scrap it. |
| A debate about the issue is to be held at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday and a government decision is expected to be announced in the New Year. | A debate about the issue is to be held at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday and a government decision is expected to be announced in the New Year. |