Brigid Simmonds, chair of the Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR), has renewed her call for the reduction of "unnecessary red tape" in sports.
Simmonds said that the sport and recreation sector is struggling to maintain the status quo in the face of increasing bureaucracy and over-regulation.
Speaking at CCPR's annual general meeting, Simmonds said that sports organisations and clubs are still getting caught up in a host of issues which shouldn’t affect them.
"The notion that a sports club with a radio should pay an exorbitant fee simply for a licence to turn it on is daft," she said. "Yet these are the kind of issues CCPR has had to deal with this year.
“The danger is that departments and their officials get so wrapped up in the detail of what they are doing that they lose sight of the bigger picture. I
"I don’t think there is a minister in government who would say that sports clubs don’t make an invaluable contribution to our communities. Yet when it comes to administering the finer points of policies, that good work is often swept to one side whilst another layer of bureaucracy is plastered on."
The adverse effects of red tape on sport were first brought up at the CCPR's AGM last year by both Simmonds and HRH The Prince Philip, president of the council.
The Prince criticised the ever-increasing load of legislation, regulation and bureaucracy and appealed against all risks being removed from sports.
Article originall featured on Ispal.co.uk
