Brown Mulling 2012 Olympics Ministry

Prime Minister-elect Gordon Brown is mulling over setting up a specific
ministerial department to handle the London 2012 Olympics if, as expected, he
takes the helm at the end of next month.

The plans, revealed by the BBC’s Inside Sport programme, are likely to be
confirmed during Brown’s first 100 days in office during which he will unveil a
sports manifesto.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) currently has
responsibility for the 2012 Olympics but this could now be passed on to the new
ministry.

As well as the Olympics, the ministry would cover sports and “wellbeing”, in
an effort to boost the nation’s health. The new department is likely to be
called the Olympics, Sports and Wellbeing Ministry.

Brown is the clear favourite to succeed incumbent Primer Minister Tony Blair
who will stand down on 27th June.

The budget for the 2012 Games has proved a constant source of media
speculation with the government finally confirming a £10bn coffer earlier this
year.

Opposition Leader David Cameron is set to unveil his first ever sports policy
speech at the Sport Industry Lecture on Tuesday 22nd May.