17 July 2007

Dear Sir

Gordon Brown’s call for a "united team effort" to turn Britain into a "great sporting nation" has a hollow ring to it. The £100m pledged to allow schoolchildren do an hour of competitive sport a day compares unfavourably to the billions poured into the out of control Olympic 2012 project. Much of the Olympic funding has come from raiding lottery funds at the expense of grass roots sport and the Arts.

This government has failed to stop the concreting over of school and community fields, begun by the Tories. 40% were lost between 1992 and 2005. Children should have the opportunity to play sport on their own school playing field, encouraging good health and physical fitness to combat the obesity epidemic. Instead, in many cases, they are transported across gridlocked Sheffield to centralised, all weather facilities.

Gordon Brown is funding 225 "competition managers" to work with schools to increase the amount of competitive sport they offer in an increasing "medal based" policy. Current investment is overwhelmingly in indoor facilities, complementing the millions of children permanently attached to games consoles and adults slumped in front of Sky Sports. What we need, Mr Brown, is investment in outdoor sports pitches and facilities to keep grass roots sport alive. Providing the opportunity for ordinary people to participate in healthy, physical activity will help stave off the obesity epidemic. That would be a true gold medal winning achievement.

Yours Sincerely

Eamonn Ward