Sil 2007: Cameron Commissions Facilities Report

Conservative Party leader David Cameron has announced his first major sport
initiative, commissioning a new report into inner-city sport facilities during
his inaugural sport policy speech at the Sport Industry Lecture 2007 last night.

Cameron highlighted the ability of sport to reconnect youth in urban areas
with his report aimed at discovering how such facilities can be funded and built
– even alluding that the Conservative Party itself will contribute monies
towards such initiatives.

‘The first thing to say is that I’ve got no intention of waiting until the
Conservative Party is in government,’ stated Cameron.

‘I want to start making a difference now. That’s why I recently commissioned
a report into how sport can be improved for young people, especially
disconnected youngsters from inner cities and other tough areas.

‘One of the things I want to do is look at how private organisations,
including businesses, charities – even the Conservative Party – can get involved
in providing facilities and opportunities.’

In announcing the commissioning of the new report, the results of which are
likely to be unveiled within the next few weeks, Cameron went to great lengths
to criticise the current structure for Lottery funding, stating that millions of
pounds originally intended for sport was being siphoned off.

‘Make no mistake, when it comes to public money, sport has had a very raw
deal indeed,’ commented Cameron.

‘When the National Lottery was created it had four original pillars – sport,
arts, heritage and charities. In 1998 sport got £397m. Then Labour decided to
use the Lottery as a piggy bank for all its schemes. As a result sport has been
clobbered. Last year funding was down to £264m. That’s a shortfall of £133m.’