Sport and Olympics Minister sets out Olympic sports legacy plans

Plans to reform sport and deliver a lasting legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games were set out by Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, today.

Speaking to Olympic sport bodies at the British Olympic Association he announced new sports legacy priorities, with a stronger focus on facilities and sport at a community level. Sport England will implement these new priorities.

Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson said:

“Delivering a mass participation legacy for sport from London 2012 is one of my three top priorities. I want to see a marked, and sustained, cultural shift toward greater participation in sport.

“So I have today informed Sport England that, going forward, it will have two clear priorities; supporting sports governing bodies through the Whole Sport Plans and delivering a mass participation sports legacy from London 2012.

“To deliver this Sport England will focus on improving facility provision and developing sport at a community level.”

The Minister also set out other key areas where the Government was planning change:

• Lottery reform – Plans to increase sports’ share of Lottery returns from 16% to 20% are progressing quickly, with an Order expected to be put before Parliament after the summer recess.  It is estimated this will lead to a funding increase of £50 million a year to sport by 2012
  
• Structural reform – Proposals are being developed for the bringing together of UK Sport, Sport England and Youth Sport Trust under one roof while maintaining their separate roles and responsibilities.
  
• School sport – The Secretary of State has made it his top priority to deliver a renewed emphasis on competition both within and between schools. Work is underway to develop an Olympic and Paralympic style school sport competition. More details to follow in the next few weeks.
  
• Elite/world class sport - Consultation is underway with those sports bidding or planning to bid for major events with a view to bringing forward, at the appropriate time, a specific Major Sports Events Bill designed to make it easier to win and host major events.

Mr Robertson continued:

“These changes will boost school and community sport, increase the flow of lottery money and further improve the way our key sports bodies work together. They will also help put the UK at the top of the world league when it comes to hosting major sports events, which is critical at a time when we are bidding to win the 2018 World Cup.”