For immediate release
 
Sport Nova Scotia responds to Support4Sport campaign criticism

HALIFAX, NS (October 7, 2009) – Game Over VLTS.com issued a press release yesterday criticizing the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation campaign surrounding the Support4Sport program.  Announced in 2007, the Support4Sport program, which is funded by the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, allocates over $2 million annually to Sport Nova Scotia’s Nova Scotia Amateur Sport Fund.  

“The national lottery was instituted in order to provide financial resources for sport.  We are pleased to see the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, like many of their counterparts across Canada, begin to re-invest in these types of programs,” says Jamie Ferguson, CEO, Sport Nova Scotia.

Through this program, support to deliver both existing and expanded participation development programs has been provided to Provincial Sport Organizations and their community members.  Vital funding has gone to support Canada Games programs while top Nova Scotian international and national athletes have received much needed financial support.  As well, full-time coaching positions have been created for several Provincial Sport Organizations.

“Monies from the Support4Sport program not only help our high performance athletes and coaches, they also allow sport organizations to provide increased community programs.  Increased programs mean more Nova Scotian children have the opportunity to take part in sport.  We know that children who take part are not only more likely to be healthy, they are also more likely to do well in school, and less likely to become involved in the youth justice system.  Benefits like these are what help develop vibrant communities across our province,” adds Ferguson.

In response to the specific criticism of the Support4Sport campaign, “We believe the media campaign celebrates sport and illustrates the good corporate citizenship being practiced by a Nova Scotia company.  Through this campaign, we think Nova Scotians are seeing where some of the revenues generated by the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation are going, and we believe Nova Scotians are pleased to see them supporting vital community programs such as sport,” says Ferguson.

Sport Nova Scotia is a voice for amateur sport that promotes the benefits of health, personal development and achievement of all participants. Sport Nova Scotia is a non-profit, non-government organization representing over 60 provincial sport organizations and more than 160,000 member Nova Scotians.

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For more information, please contact:
Catherine McKellar
Director, Communications and Public Relations
902-425-5450 ext. 321
cmckellar@sportnovascotia.ca