BRITISH DARTS ORGANISATION LEADS THE WAY IN GAINING SPORTS RECOGNITION
FOR DARTS

Following the comprehensive application by the British Darts Organisation for darts to be recognised as a sport, Sport England have once again taken the lead in officially recognising darts as a sport.

However, this is nothing new. They did so following the BDO's original application several years ago, but for darts to be officially recognised, all four of the UK Sports Councils needed to unanimously agree - and they didn't at that time.

The BDO is now hoping that their renewed application will at last produce unanimous and rightful recognition for darts from the UK Sports Councils.

The latest decision by Sport England was approved at a Main Board meeting and it is hoped that it will pave the way for the other Sports Councils to follow suit.

The fact that Sport England acknowledges darts, as a legitimate sporting activity is a tribute to the BDO's submission on behalf of the sport. Because of this they have taken into account the status of darts as a national and international sport. They also acknowledge its high and growing levels of participation, and the physical and mental skills and dexterity needed to compete successfully.

Encouragingly, Sport England Chief Executive, Roger Draper, said that the Board decision looked beyond the stereotypical image of darts and took into account its many positive sporting and social values:

"The presentation of darts as a pub game has helped popularise its cult appeal", he says. "But the reality is that it is a sport played by many thousands of people across the country in locations ranging from schools to village halls, social clubs and sports centres.

"By taking the lead in recognising the skills and social and community values associated with darts, we hope others will follow suit in the near future to complete its formal and official recognition as a sport".

There can be no doubt that the decision by Sport England has been taken in direct response the latest BDO application - a professionally produced 25 page document, backed up with legal and medial advice, and accompanied by an excellent and informative DVD presented by the BBC's Ray Stubbs.

"We have never had any doubts that darts is a sport", says Olly Croft, OBE, "which is why we have been working towards recognition since we first sat down with Sir Rodney Walker (then head of UK Sport) some nine years ago. Our application at that time resulted in Sport England recognising darts, but unfortunately a couple of the other Sports Councils did not agree. We remain confident that this time they will concur with Sport England.

"The BDO has always seen recognition as vitally important to the long-term growth of darts from grass roots through to national, international, world and professional levels. We have the system, the rules and the correct values in place to deliver all the criteria required by the Sports Councils from the governing body of darts".

Crucial to this are the well-defined BDO rules and regulations, and its attitudes towards having a proper doping policy and strict guidelines in regard to drinking, smoking, dress codes and the general behaviour of players, officials and supporters.

The BDO have also been congratulated on the unanimous decision of the Board to implement both an Equity Policy and Child Protection Policy, which are now implicit in its structure.

The 16 minute DVD which accompanies the application was not only filmed with professional players and officials - men and women - at the 2005 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships, but also features youth darts and the BDO's involvement in the Government 'Get On' campaign to improve numeracy through darts.

Filmed by Daniel Monroe, an under graduate at Chester University, it is an integral component of the BDO's powerful, convincing and professional presentation. Among the mass of information, the DVD points out that a higher percentage of people taking part in a Sport England survey played darts rather than football, rugby and cricket.

It also shows that research indicates almost a third of all youngsters either play darts or are interested in it (a statistic that most other sports would struggle to emulate).

The application benefits from the legal advice and guidance of specialist sports solicitors Hammonds, Barrister Tom De La Mare, QC, the support of the International Darts Players Association notably through the input of Martin Fitzmaurice and Martin Adams, and players like Bobby George, who raised the issue with MP Bob Russell in the 1990s.

Both Martin Adams and Mervyn King wore pedometers during the 2005 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships in order to illustrate the physical side of darts. During his route to the final, Martin Adams registered 25.37 kilometres in practice and matchplay. That amounted to a staggering 33,310 steps up and down the oche!

And in keeping with the physical side of darts, Dr. Peter Gregory of the Sports Medicine Department of the University of Nottingham is quoted on the DVD as saying:

"Darts involves physical activity that is of sufficient intensity that many of the general populace would benefit from taking it up on a regular basis".

This is an extremely powerful recommendation from a highly respected medical expert who has advised, among others, the English Cricket Board.

The BDO's current application for darts to be recognised, rightly, as a bona fide sport, is the culmination of almost ten years of campaigning and lobbying on behalf of its members, officials and supporters.

"It must be remembered that the benefits of recognition are implicit to the long term future of darts", adds Olly Croft. "As governing body we are charged with the responsibility of looking after the WHOLE sport. With this in mind, we need to fund youth darts, women's darts, county darts, our national sides, and take on huge administration costs.

"Recognition will allow us, as governing body, to apply for Sport Council and Lottery grants, while at the same time giving rightful recognition to our players to describe themselves as sportsmen and sportswomen.

"It has been a long and at times hard road, but if we succeed in gaining recognition, then the benefits will become obvious for our members, officials and supporters.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved with our latest application to Sport England - not least of all everyone at Hammonds - for giving us so much invaluable support over the years".

From Robert Holmes - BDO