Rotary Sport International: First Meeting in Basingstoke
Rotary Sport International, an initiative which aims to “bring young people together using the power of sport,” held its first meeting after receiving an official charter from the international Rotary brand.
The meeting took place in the conference room at Basingstoke Rugby Football Club, with a number of notable local individuals with ties to the world of sport taking part.
The ever-growing club has big ambitions for sport in the town, and discussed a number of ways it could help to improve and even create important facilities which would encourage youngsters to get active.
President of Rotary Sport International, Dr Tunde Adelakun, said: “It marked the first meeting since the Club was chartered and given full Rotary International approval.”
He explained how, although the team is still relatively small, this meeting was the first step in the plans to “kickstart this global phenomenon.”
The club was officially chartered by Rotary in America in the last few weeks, with Dr Tunde adding that “the higher-ups have given full support, and we can now make use of Rotary International funding to deliver charity projects.
“We have big ambitions for what we can do, what we can achieve.”
One of the plans for the club is to establish connections in the community who can help realise the vision of the club.
It has already partnered with the rugby club, with chair of commercial Brett Wallace attending the meeting, along with Basingstoke Hockey Club’s Miranda Smith, and Kevin Lang, chair of Basingstoke Voluntary Sports Council.
Dr Tunde added: “It is one of those moments where, in future, we will say it started as a group of 12 and now look where we are.
“We are growing. This was in Basingstoke and our community is growing in numbers.
“I am very excited that we got started the way we did, wow, the level of enthusiasm and desire shown by everyone at the meeting convinced me further that we are indeed on to something big.
“The meeting was good. And I am so happy that we got the charter that allows us to operate not just as a local club but as a club with roots in every corner of the world.
“The way we have been accepted so far has been phenomenal and our sports, our youth and our personal selves will be the ultimate beneficiaries from what Rotary International has allowed is to start.
“We will keep engaging with local sports groups, local schools and local leaders in the community to ensure that the sporting needs of the town, as far as Basingstoke is concerned, are met; not left in the hands of established authority alone, but for us to do what we can as well, to help.
“So come on let’s push sports up, through Rotary.”
