The half-day debate in the Commons will explore exactly what plans are being made to fulfil organisers’ promises that the Games’ focus would be on getting more people involved in sport in the UK.
Senior sports administrators joined ranks today as part of a CCPR campaign to highlight what they see as a missed opportunity as far as planning for a legacy of increased participation is concerned. Their comments come at a time of growing unease on the part of CCPR that the Government is losing sight of the sporting element of the Games as it focuses on financing other elements of the project.
Peter King, chief executive of British Cycling, believes that success at the Games will be measured by more than just medals:
“British Cycling made huge strides in Beijing. But a lot of that success is down to getting people involved at the grassroots level. Without a broad base of participation, no sport can sustain elite success – the two go hand-in-hand. The 2012 Games give us the opportunity of a lifetime to broaden the base not just in cycling but in a whole host of sports. Cycling will benefit from great facilities left by the Olympics but we also want to make sure that we will be able to fill them with people inspired by the Games.”
Richard Yule, chief executive of the English Table Tennis Association, the sport’s national governing body, said:
“The Government deserves credit for investing so much money in school and elite sport and that investment is really paying dividends in terms of kids doing PE and in medal tallies. But community sport is the missing link here and that’s where the Olympics can make the most difference. We have to get the backing of ministers and the buy-in of local government to make the Olympic legacy happen across the country. With the right support, national governing bodies could achieve so much more than ministers are currently aiming for.”
Brian Stocks, chief executive of British Gymnastics, also questioned the Government’s commitment to the legacy of participation it promised when London won the Games:
“There is always going to be the ‘Wimbledon effect’ from the Games – two weeks of people trying sports they’ve seen on TV. But we need to see something more sustainable than that. We want to start getting people excited about the Games now and we also need to ensure we can cope with demand. That will need planning and investment. Without extra capacity, governing bodies will really struggle to deliver the legacy of participation which will make these Games a success.”
Tim Lamb, chief executive of CCPR, says that the sports fraternity is becoming increasingly concerned at the absence of any meaningful plan for a legacy from the Games.
“The only new policy on the table as far as legacy is concerned is free swimming – so if you don’t like swimming, you’re sunk. The rest of the proposals are little more than existing plans which have been re-badged. So far there has been a real poverty of ambition about the Government’s thinking. There’s an increasing danger that the promise that organisers made loud and clear to increase participation on the back of the Games will not be honoured and for sport that is a real concern.”
