{"id":6256,"date":"2010-11-10T16:47:13","date_gmt":"2010-11-10T21:47:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=6256"},"modified":"2010-11-10T16:47:13","modified_gmt":"2010-11-10T21:47:13","slug":"sporting-events-deliver-huge-economic-benefits-for-niagara-research-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2010\/11\/sporting-events-deliver-huge-economic-benefits-for-niagara-research-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Sporting events deliver huge economic benefits for Niagara: research report"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Brian

From left: Brian Hutchings, Scott McRoberts, Laura Cousens, Stephen Fischer and Martha Barnes<\/p><\/div>\n

Local amateur sporting events pump millions of dollars into their local economy every year, shows research released today by Brock\u2019s Niagara Community Observatory.<\/p>\n

The latest policy brief, \u201cMore than fun and games: sport\u2019s contribution to Niagara\u2019s economy and community wellbeing,\u201d uses data from 73 sport clubs within the Niagara Region to show the economic impact of the events hosted by those clubs in 2009 was more than $7 million.<\/p>\n

Yet the same study, written by Brock researchers Laura Cousens, Joanne MacLean and Martha Barnes, shows that these organizations often struggle for financial and institutional support.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity sport is about fun and games, but the huge economic impact that sport has on the Niagara area is frequently overlooked,\u201d said David Siegel, Niagara Community Observatory<\/a> director.<\/p>\n

The clubs are run by thousands of volunteers who make contributions in coaching, officiating and administrative support. But they suffer from barriers such as chronic under-funding and the struggle for resources. The Niagara Sport Commission (NSC) was created to work with Niagara\u2019s sporting community to create partnerships, committees, inter-locking boards and communication tools to help the groups collaborate.<\/p>\n

The findings also show that sport is a recognized means of building children\u2019s cognitive and social abilities. It enhances their academic achievement and teaches positive values and life skills.<\/p>\n

The report was released Nov. 10 during a briefing and panel discussion at the MacBain Community Centre in Niagara Falls. Panellists included:<\/p>\n