Page 3 - SN 4 July-Aug 2022 cover.indd

Morgan Lake is set to represent England at the Commonwealth Games in August
Ensuring successful legacies from major events
As we look forward
to the start of the Commonwealth
Games in
Birmingham, the
National Audit Office’s report
into the value for money from
investment in major events and
grassroots sport makes for interesting reading. While the report notes that some progress has been made in increasing participation levels, following the overall £8.8bn spent on the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it also concludes that leadership and collaboration across government in driving up levels of activity has been inconsistent. The result is that the sector’s contribution to wider policy objectives has not been maximised.
Recommendations from the report include setting out how the DCMS should measure the success of its forthcoming strategy
and clarifying whether - and how - major sporting events will deliver increased
participation in sport and physical activity when bidding to host such
events. A salient point, given
the £778m public funding in the Commonwealth Games included
the creation of facilities, such as the Sandwell Aquatics Centre, as part of legacy plans designed to
benefit local communities (see page 30). And, as we continue through a summer of sporting excellence - with Wimbledon,
UEFA Women’s Euros, Commonwealth Games, the 150th Open and much more - many people will be inspired to take up or resume sport/physical activity thanks to the coverage of these events and the many positive role models portrayed. Given that every £1 invested in the community sport and physical activity sector generates
£4 in social and economic benefits, it’s worth continuing to press the case for increased spending on facilities and initiatives to get people more active. John Challinor, Publisher
CONTACT
Tom Walker
Editor
E: tom@sportsnation.org.uk
@SportsNationMag
John Challinor
Publisher
T: +44 (0)1202 742968
E: john@sportsnation.org.uk
SportsNation is published by SportsNation Ltd in association with the Sports
And Play Construction Association (SAPCA). www.sapca.org.uk
This publication is protected by copyright
and no part may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any print or electronic format without the written permission of the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this publication and SportsNation accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. Opinions expressed by the contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher
and we do not accept responsibility of
losses or damages arising from them.
Printed by Big Wave Media Ltd.
ISSN 2755-0621 (Print) ISSN 2755-063X (Online)
Register for your free subscription at www.sportsnation.org.uk The official magazine of
SPORTSNATION.ORG.UK
JUL/AUG 2022 3
E
DITOR’S LETTER
FROM THE PUBLISHER
ON THE COVER
©: SHUTTERSTOCK/ ABDUL RAZAK LATIF
31