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Sports minister ditches Jowell Olympic plan
Matthew Beard, Evening Standard28.11.07
The row over a legacy for the London Olympics will intensify as the Government performs a U-turn on which sports it is prepared to fund until 2012.
Culture Secretary James Purnell will tell a conference in Telford today that he wants funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to emphasise competitive sport.
This will come as a blow to Sport England which will be responsible for implementing Mr Purnell's proposals only 14 months after working on his predecessor Tessa Jowell's idea of providing funding for walking and aerobics. Chairman Derek Mapp is thought to be considering his position.
Mr Purnell feels getting people to use stairs rather than the lift should not be funded by his department.
Reader views (7)
Another shining example of this governments shortsightedness. Spending all this money when the fundamental issues like transport, street cleaning and crime need funding to make this city a better place.
Ditch it and give London the cash to do something worth while with! Then we would have something to look forward to and something that would be a testament to our children.
- Nic Zuraw, London, UK
Why not ditch Olympics. Full stop.
- Bill, London NW1
Eric - have a look at how much money is ploughed into the arts every year. Sport gets a pittance in comparison and most to the money sport gets is targeted at a small number of sports, mainly football.
And I bet you that, next time you are at the ROH, you'll be watching performers that have benefited handsomely over the years from Arts council (i.e. public) money.
- Moz, London
Of course! Its perfectly acceptable to provide elitist public funding if it might provide some nice shiny medals to justify the vanity project that is the Olympics but its not acceptable to support the arts because they are elitist. Tell me please which is more difficult to get into, the Royal Opera House or an Olympic competition? Both are spectator sports but only in one are the public asked to pay to for the performers at every stage, without them officially earning any income of their own with subsequent tax benefits. Barnum had a point. All together now, three cheers for the vanity project.
- Eric, London
Oh my god! I actually agree with a Labour minister. I may have to go for a lie down.
- Mark, London, UK
They are too busy accepting Labour party gifts!
- Pete, London
Seems like the minister for sports should be talking more with the minister for culture! Fine government we have. These Olympics are a fine mess too.
- Georgie, Islington, London
