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Derbyshire businesses are introduced to ICON

3 November 2010

ICON was unveiled by Derbyshire Sport during a business breakfast at the University of Derby Corporate Enterprise Centre on Tuesday, November 2.

Delegates heard how the new initiative would allow more businesses to unite and play their part in helping Derbyshire to become one of the most active and successful sporting counties in England by 2020.

ICON will help businesses to engage in new developments and take positive steps to encourage their workforce to become more active and healthier as a result, and give businesses the chance to connect with other local organisations who share their interest in sport.

It will also give businesses that have an interest in sport and leisure the chance to support Derbyshire’s most talented young sports performers, and during the launch event delegates heard from three local athletes Anna Toman, Gallin Montgomery and Ross Montgomery, who are competing internationally and are currently supported by the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund.

17-year-old Anna, from Duffield, is a member of the England U18 hockey team, and won a silver medal at the Four Nations tournament in Holland.

Brothers Gallin (21) and Ross (19), from Belper, are both members of the Great Britain U21 Canoe Polo team, and recently returned from the World Championships in Milan with a bronze medal.

Gallin said: “The money from the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund has helped with travel, accommodation, kit, coaching and facility hire. The money has definitely been useful, especially when you consider that canoeing is such an expensive sport to participate in. New canoes are nearly £1,500. Any extra funding that is received is greatly appreciated because money is always an issue in our sport.”

The launch of ICON has created media interest, with coverage in the November 3 issue of the Derby Telegraph. Derbyshire Sport Director David Joy is also due to appear on BBC Radio Derby during the Sport From Six show this evening (November 3) to talk about ICON.

A number of organisations have already pledged to support ICON, including Origination, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Rolls-Royce, Cooper Parry, Marketing Derby, Derby County FC, the Derby Telegraph, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, Derbyshire Economic Partnership, the University of Derby, Derby College and Vidistorm.

All the local authorities in Derbyshire are also supporting the initiative.

With less than two years to go to the opening of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Derbyshire Sport and its partners are working hard to create a lasting legacy in Derbyshire from the Games, and ICON has been created as part of this.

Derbyshire Sport is a county sports partnership and provides the strategic lead for sport in Derbyshire.  It is a partnership organisation made up of partners working together to improve the lives of the people in Derbyshire through sport and active recreation. It is part of a network of 49 CSPs working in counties across England.

A short film about the ICON launch event is now available, produced by ICON partner Vidistorm. To view the film visit Derbyshire Sport's You Tube channel (opens in a new window) (opens in a new window)