has today (Thursday 25 April)
announced his plan to “fully cement London's reputation as the
undisputed sports capital of the world” by pledging to bid for
more high-profile events, should he be re-elected on 2 May.
Since 2016, London has hosted some of the world's best major
sports events including UEFA Men's EURO 2020, the Laver Cup, NFL
London games, Diamond League Athletics, London E-Prix, UEFA
Women's EURO 2022 and Major League Baseball.
Sadiq has pledged to bring together a taskforce to explore
bringing even more sports from North America and around
the world to London – including the first international
WrestleMania hosted by the UK.
Sadiq understands the power of sport not only to bring people
together, but also bring major economic returns. Last year's
WrestleMania, which was held in Los Angeles, had a $215m economic
impact for the wider area, and the combined impact of the 2016 to
2023 events was $1.2bn.
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games is estimated to have
boosted the UK economy by £10bn in the following 12 months
alone.
In his manifesto, Sadiq has committed to exploring a bid for the
Olympics and Paralympics to return to London in 2040 and to
campaigning to bring the NBA – the US's National Basketball
Association - to the capital.
At grassroots level, Sadiq has also pledged to encourage more
Londoners from under-served communities to participate in sport
through the £20million Go! London fund - the biggest
community sport fund in the capital – which he launched with
partners last year.
He will explore a partnership with the Women's Super League to
grow the audience for women's football in the capital.
He will work with major sports events, including the London
Marathon and Ride London, to get more children from every
background involved in physical activity.
And Sadiq will also invest in supporting a new generation of
leaders from underrepresented groups to join the boards of major
clubs and sporting bodies.
Other key sporting commitments being outlined by
the Mayor today include:
· Working with
the Premier League and the English Football League on developing
a skills academy for those working with football clubs in London
· Restoring the
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre to its former glory and
turning it into Britain's first zero-carbon major sports centre
· Working with
partners to deliver the restoration of Crystal Palace athletics
stadium
· Exploring
a longer-term ambition of bringing the Superbowl to London for
the first event outside of the US
The election on 2 May will be a close two-horse race between
Sadiq, who will cement London's status as the global sporting
capital, and his hard-right Conservative opponent who doesn't
even mention sport once in her manifesto.
said: “London is a
world leader in major sports events and has been at the heart of
some of the most memorable sporting moments of the last few
decades. From the Olympics, to the Lionesses winning
the Euros at Wembley, to the Ashes at Lord's and The Oval, London
is where it's at.
“If I'm re-elected on 2 May, I'm determined to go even further
and fully cement London's reputation as the undisputed sports
capital of the world. I believe that London has the potential to
host the first international WrestleMania.
“In the meantime, my message to anyone travelling to the Paris
Olympics this summer is to include a visit to London in your
itinerary, to enjoy all that our city has to offer.”
MP, Shadow Secretary of
State for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “Sport
brings us joy. It reaches across borders, and is part of the UK's
global brand. Sport is also an economic powerhouse, and a Labour
Government wants to see it contribute to the UK's economic
growth.
“Sadiq is rightly ambitious for the role that London can play in
global sport. He has an exceptional record as London Mayor, both
when it comes to bringing major sporting events to London, but
also in broadening access to sport for young people. I hope
Londoners will support him on the 2 May.”
ENDS
Notes
The Mayor of London, London Marathon Foundation and Sport England
have come together as funders, in collaboration with London
Marathon Events and London Sport, to create Go! London – the
biggest community sport fund in the capital. Through this £20
million partnership, they aim to build a fairer London,
strengthen and diversify the capital's sport and physical
activity sector and reduce barriers to physical activity.
