Scottish sport organisations warn they are 'running on empty'

The First Minister has been warned that Scottish sport organisations are effectively “running on empty”.

An open letter from 39 governing sport bodies on Thursday stated that Scottish sport is currently unsustainable due to funding issues.

The signatories, which include leaders from various sports such as football, rugby, swimming, athletics, cycling, judo, golf, cricket, gymnastics, and student sport, are calling for urgent reassurances from John Swinney.

In 2021, the Scottish SNP Government promised to double annual sports funding to £100m by 2026.

However, sports leaders have claimed that funding “remains at the level it was” four years ago.

When taking inflation into account, the chair of the Scottish Governing Body for Sport forum (SGB), Doc McKelvey, said Scottish sport has seen almost a 25% real-terms funding reduction.

“I am writing on behalf of senior leaders of governing bodies big and small, all across Scotland, to express our concern that because of recent funding decisions, many are now effectively ‘running on empty’,” he wrote on behalf of the forum.

“Our organisations are struggling on a daily basis, and the need is urgent.”

According to the letter, total payroll costs of sport bodies with the greatest reliance on public funding has grown by over £7m in the past four years.

Over the same period, Mr McKelvey said Sport Scotland has only been able to support an increased investment of £1.4m due to funding constraints.

At the same time, the forum said international training camp and competition costs for a group of Scottish athletes is estimated to have increased by around 25-35% over the past five years.

The forum has tried to maintain financial support for national athletes representing Scotland, but McKelvey added that a “significant number of athletes who compete on the world stage are now having to self-fund”.

“We recently surveyed our members and each has their own specific story to tell about how it has affected them, but it all adds up to a crisis that has left the governing bodies running on empty,” the letter stated.

Addressing the First Minister, sport leaders said: “We seek your assurance that investment in sport remains a priority, as it was in 2021 and as you prepare for the final budget before this parliament comes to an end, this commitment remains.

“Scotland has the eyes of the sporting world upon us over the next three years, starting with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. This is something we are all proud of and excited about, but we worry about what comes after.

“We believe this is unique opportunity for you and your Government to use these events to secure a legacy that has an impact far beyond sport itself and urge you to do so.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.