The Importance of Sport

On Tuesday 5th January, 2010, Andy Reed MP for Loughborough hosted an evening reception at the Houses of Parliament, entitled ‘The Importance of Sport’. The guest speaker was coaching legend, and former Loughborough graduate, Sir Clive Woodward. Sir Clive is the man who is now leading the charge for medals at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as British Olympic Association Director of Elite Performance.

The gathering was arranged by the Sports Caucus, a group of backbench MPs, chaired by Mr Reed with the support of UK Sport, Sport England, CCPR, LGA and BISL. The event itself served to raise awareness amongst MPs and Peers, concerning the importance of both grassroots and elite sport to constituencies and to the UK as a whole. Also speaking was Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Minister for Sport.

MPs received detailed information packs to take away with them. The economic and health benefits of sport were outlined, as well as the contribution sport makes to social cohesion and crime reduction. Also present were Christian Organisations: ‘Christians in Sport’ and ‘More than Gold’. They had the opportunity to talk with the Minister for Sport about the church’s contribution to the Olympic Games and to Sport as a whole.