Document highlights ECB commitment to grassroots development

The ECB today hosted the media launch of the Central Council of Physical Recreation's document, Two Sides of the Same Coin, a report highlighting the £91 million expenditure by the governing bodies of the major spectator sports to grassroots development in 2000.

The ECB commits 11% of broadcast revenue to funding grassroots cricket, with all governing bodies committing at least 5% as a result of the CCPR Voluntary Code of TV Sports Broadcasting Rights, signed in 1997.

Attendees included the Rt Hon Chris Smith MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Tim Lamb, ECB Chief Executive; Adam Crozier, FA Chief Executive, and Maurice Lindsay, Chairman of the CCPR Major Spectator Sports Division.

Speaking at the launch, Tim Lamb said: "It's a good day for sport in this country. The future of all sport lies in the next generation and it's imperative that today's youngsters are encouraged and given every opportunity to play sport. It's good to see all the top sports represented here today reinforcing our commitment to grass roots development".

Keith Pont, ECB Director of Development, said: "The past 18 months has been a significant time for the development of cricket. Last week we launched our National Strategy which provides a strategic framework for the future development of our game.

"In conjunction with Channel 4 we launched Howzat! in November - an education resource pack for primary and secondary schools and last year we appointed our first four Women's Cricket Development Officers.

"The money gained from TV revenue is an essential source of funding for these and other ECB and Cricket Foundation initiatives".