Sport

Lord Moynihan Excerpts

Monday 8th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Moynihan]

My Lords, this is the first false start of the summer. In declaring my interest as the outgoing chairman of the British Olympic Association—

[Baroness Billingham]

My Lords—

[Baroness Anelay of St Johns]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, was ready to speak on the past two occasions and gave way. We will have the opportunity to hear from the opposition Front Bench very shortly after his question.

[Lord Moynihan]

My Lords, I apologise for the earlier false start. In declaring my interest as the outgoing chairman of the British Olympic Association, may I thank noble Lords from all sides of this House for their consistent support for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games since we first debated them some seven years ago?

The challenge is now to turn inspiration into participation. Does the Minister agree that central to this objective is a priority focus on school sport and the establishment of new links between clubs, volunteers, governing bodies, primary, secondary and, indeed, independent schools?

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My noble friend, to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude for everything he has done, is absolutely right, and I should make one small point. The Secretary of State for Education met representatives of some of the national governing bodies last week and is building on what is already known about in terms of strategy.