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Olympics Desk
The sports legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games in London will be "a major hit" of the austerity measures proposed by the current government according to Hugh Robertson the Sports Minister, with a wave programmes commissioned before the general election, already cancelled or subject to major cuts. A new generation of school sports facilities has already been cancelled saving the government £6.05 billion. Major cuts are planned in the £1 billion spent by local authorities on sports and recreation facilities. The budget of the Department of Culture, Media and sport will be cut by £2 billion by 2015.
The fundamental commitment of the 2012 Olympic Games in London was to increase sports participation, with Lord Coe in an interview with the Evening Standard in February said: "If it is how to get more kids into sports in this country, then that is effectively the Government's role. If it is participation, that is a London-driven programme and that is why the Mayor has appointed Kate Hoey to drive a grass-roots strategy in London.”
The government has also confirmed it will scrap free swimming sessions for all under-16s and under 65s provoking the shadow minister for sport Andy Burnham in The Guardian said:
"The Olympics represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the nation's habits and encourage more people to be physically active, yet these cuts, some for peanuts in terms of government spending will see the hollowing out of sports as in th Conservative 1980s, and the Olympics legacy being thrown away."
Some local authorities have already put in place programmes to involve private sector companies to run leisure facilities with Enfield council in north London establishing a partnership "Fusion Lifestyle" a charity that already runs 45 leisure centres across the south-east of England. The partnership will see £8.9 million invested in Enfield sports and leisure with Bambos Charalambous, cabinet member for young people, leisure, culture and the Olympics at Enfield Council in a report by the Enfield Press said: “Fusion Lifestyle’s staff are acknowledged experts in this field and will ensure our centres offer excellent facilities for everyone. Fusion’s bid to run our leisure centres promises value for money and ensures an appropriate balance between cost and quality.”
photo credit: Getty images
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