A new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) criticizes the DCMS and Sport England for funding aimed at increasing participation in sport. The PAC chair said from London 2012 that “there was very little to show for heritage”. DCMS and Sport England refute allegations
Last updated: 07/01/23 1:00pm
The government has been accused of wasting money after the London 2012 Olympics to increase participation in sports.
The government has been accused of wasting money to boost grassroots participation and levels of physical activity after the London 2012 Olympics.
A new report from the Public Accounts Commission (PAC), published on Sunday, called on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and grassroots funding body Sport England to “precisely how and when to monitor”. It criticizes what it considers to be an “unacceptable” deficiency. Public funds designed to keep people active are being spent.
PAC Chair Dame Meg Hillier said there was “very little to show as a legacy” from the London 2012 Games, adding: That he lost a third, indicating that only he has a 1.2% increase in active adults (between November 2016 and he 2019).
“There will be more waste and a further loss of much-needed public funding. With the cost of living crisis deepening, DCMS is looking to do something else to make a difference where it has not been successful. We have to clarify what we should do.”
PAC Chairman Dame Meg Hillier said from London 2012 that “there is very little to show as a legacy”.
It is understood that Sport England views PAC’s claim that it does not know where its investment will go as inaccurate.
A spokesperson for the organization said: It costs. ”
Sport England takes a closer look at where national investments in governing bodies such as the Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association and the England and Wales Cricket Board have impacted communities without introducing too much red tape. working to understand.
The report makes seven recommendations to DCMS and Sport England, saying “little progress has been made” in tackling barriers to participation.
Sport England also countered this, saying that pre-pandemic activity levels were at record highs across England, and recent Active Lives data showed a rapid recovery in participation, with children and young people already returning to pre-pandemic levels. It points out that it is showing that it is returning. .
Sport England says its ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy, launched in 2021, is dedicated to reducing inactivity and investing in partnerships and programs to tackle stubborn inequalities.
Sport England refutes claims that ‘little progress’ has been made in tackling barriers to participation
Also, PAC was not convinced that DCMS is currently working effectively with other government departments and industry to integrate physical activity into daily life.
However, the Sport For Development Coalition network, supported by Sport England, is actively demonstrating to various government departments the social and economic benefits of targeted sport-based interventions in which its members are engaged. increase.
“Our ambition is to increase participation in sport and physical activity, and future measures to reduce inequalities will always go beyond participation,” said Hitesh Patel, Executive Director of the Coalition. It’s about considering the wide range of benefits it brings to the industry,” he said.
Coalition members are now working to distribute £5million from the Ministry of Justice to use sport to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime and anti-social behaviour.
A DCMS spokesperson said, “This government has made the health and fitness of its citizens a priority, and people’s activity levels were at an all-time high before the pandemic.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have provided £1 billion to support the leisure sector, including public pools and leisure centres, grassroots and professional sports, and continue to drive participation, particularly among underrepresented groups.
“Youth activity levels are now back to pre-pandemic levels and we continue to work with Sport England to invest in sport for all, recently investing £320m in schools and thousands of Announced over £260m to build or upgrade grassroots facilities.
“We will soon publish a new sporting strategy demonstrating our ambition to continue increasing activity rates and will respond accordingly to the Commission’s report.”