VenuesWest High Performance strategy backs emerging sports

VenuesWest has launched plans which it says will “transform its support of high performance sport” in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Launched yesterday at Perth’s Bendat Basketball Centre, the new VenuesWest High Performance Sports Strategy will expand the number of targeted sports receiving support while also offering complete transparency around the selection process and benefits delivered.

VenuesWest, which owns 13 of the state's premier sport and entertainment venues on behalf of the Western Australian Government and directly supports high performance athletes as they strive to compete on the world stage, currently hosts and benefits more than 70,000 hours of high-performance training and competition at its facilities during the year.

While the new Strategy will maintain this, it also increase the span of support for sports across the spectrum - from those that have high market share and are commercially successful through to those who do not have a strong participation stronghold and require significant subsidy to train and/or compete.

Sporting organisations will soon be called to nominate their interest in the VenuesWest targeted sport program, with successful targeted sports to be inducted in July 2022.

Proposed benefits include subsidy on venue hire and lease arrangements, priority venue and facilities access, and prioritised capital investment in training and competition facilities.

The Strategy follows an extensive stakeholder consultation piece which commenced in late 2020 and engaged over 60 stakeholders, with feedback from key players such as the Western Australian Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Western Australian Institute of Sport and SportWest.

Launching the Strategy, Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister, Tony Buti stated “this is an exciting and innovative period for sport in Western Australia with emerging sports such as skateboarding and sport climbing stepping into the spotlight.

"With Brisbane 2032 on the horizon we need to think outside-of-the-box and expand our support to non-traditional sports that are exciting for spectators and athletes alike.

"We need to consider how we support sports that will get tomorrow's kids off the couch. Evolving our high performance sport support is one way to improve that.

"The VenuesWest High Performance Sport Strategy will not only consider emerging sports but will also balance the support on offer.

"VenuesWest are leaders in championing the dreams of high performance athletes, and the Strategy will be a fundamental roadmap for an exciting future for sport in Western Australia."