Inquiry
The Government promised an increase in grassroots sport
participation as part of the long-term legacy of the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games. Initiatives such as Sport England’s
£135 million ‘People Places Play’ programme were set up to
improve local facilities, train local sports leaders, and
encourage adults to try Olympic and Paralympic sports. However,
the proportion of adults participating in sport at least once a
week declined in the three years following the Games.
The Government’s strategy changed in 2015 when the Olympic and
Paralympic Legacy Cabinet Committee was disbanded and the
NAO reported in July 2022
that the Department has since “made mixed progress towards its
objectives of increasing participation, tackling inactivity and
reducing inequalities in activity levels”.
The COVID-19 pandemic was “highly disruptive for sports and
physical activity”, with the percentage of adults classed as
active falling to 61.4% in the year to November 2021. This fall
exacerbated inequalities in activity for the least affluent,
Asian people and disabled people.
The Committee will question the Permanent Secretary alongside the
Chief Executive of Sports England on measures to increase
participation in sport and physical activity and reduce
inequalities, on the impact of the pandemic, and on how the
success of the grassroots strategy is measured.
Written evidence
Witnesses: The Sports Think Tank
Witnesses LTA
Witnesses Swim England
