Sports for All!

Published on Wed 20th Aug 2008

With the Olympics now underway, it is worth examining our views and expectations of sport. China has spent millions training their sportspeople with the aim of coming top in the medals in Beijing. The money has gone solely on developing their elite athletes, not on the grassroots. The British Government plans to spend £300m developing our sportsmen and women for the London Olympics. The London Olympics are a great opportunity for further sports development provided concentration on the elite does not ignore the vast majority of people involved in sport in this country.

Locally in Stockport we are well served for sports. We have international sports stars, including swimmer James Goddard, archer Charlotte Burgess and gymnast Hannah Whelan, who have just competed in Beijing, and Jamie Howarth competed in the British Open golf last month. My team, Stockport County, won promotion to League 1, and within the Borough we have Premiership rugby team, Sale Sharks, and National League 1 team, Manchester!

The real work is done at grassroots level. My children play football for Bramhall North 75 and cricket for Bramhall CC. These clubs, and countless others like them across the North-West, are run by local people for local people. Their success is down to the hard work and dedication of volunteers, who give up hour after hour for the love of their sport and a desire to give others the opportunity.

These clubs rely on memberships and donations to keep running. In addition, the Council's Local Area Committees can use their Flexibility Funding to support local clubs. Bramhall Area Committee has supported funding for sports groups, including girl's rugby and children's football. It is important we all continue to support these clubs, who provide such a wonderful resource to our local communities. Government support should also be available to children's coaching courses such as the terrific Football in the Community Programme offered by clubs like Stockport County.

The Stockport Sports Trust, backed by the LibDem Council, has made great strides this year under new visionary leadership, and sports development is a priority for them. However, it amazes me the lack of commitment offered by a Labour government, who claim to support sport and raising activity levels in children and young people, and yet Sport England have a relatively meagre budget of £250m for the entire country. Imagine the progress we could make with £250 million for the North West alone, where so many health inequalities exist and local clubs and organisations are crying out for funds. More government funding should be spent on sport at grassroots. This will increase the number of sportspeople coming through and lead to greater success. The London Olympics are a great opportunity; let's hope it's not squandered.