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Evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee Inquiry into the 2012 London Olympic and Para-Olympic Games

1 Introduction

1.1 Fields In Trust (FIT) welcomes the opportunity to submit written evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (‘Committee') on matters relating to the funding of, and the legacy arising from, the Olympic and Para-Olympic Games (‘Games') to be held in London in 2012. FIT congratulates all those involved in the successful bid and looks forward with enthusiasm to the staging of the Games, which it believes has the potential to inspire and unite the nation, through the capacity of sport to transform people's lives.

1.2 FIT is a charity, founded in 1925 and awarded a Royal Charter in 1936. It is the only UK organisation dedicated to the protection of open spaces for sport, recreation and play in the UK. FIT's mission is to improve the quality of life and health of everyone throughout the nation, by providing, improving and protecting high quality, well used facilities for outdoor sport and play, thereby securing community facilities for future generations.

1.3 Over the last eight decades, FIT has secured the future of many hundreds of outdoor facilities and today it holds a direct legal interest in some 1200 sites covering approximately 8000 acres. It has developed widely recognised expertise on managerial, technical and legal aspects of such facilities, including playing fields, sports and recreation grounds and children's play areas. FIT works in partnership with many organisations, particularly local authorities, community amateur sports clubs and recreational charities. This work is characterised by being UK wide, and reaching communities of diverse make-up, in urban and rural areas alike, with a particular emphasis on children and young people.

1.4 In submitting this evidence, FIT will focus on its own objectives and areas of work, and will seek to create a persuasive argument for a related legacy.

1.5 The Committee has invited submissions to cover three areas and these are dealt with in turn below.

2 The costs of staging the Games and the methods by which the Games are funded

2.1 As outlined in the ‘Memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London', the Games will be funded on both a voluntary and compulsory basis. Voluntary contributions will arise, for example, from official sponsorship, the Go for Gold Lottery and money through the gate from spectators. Compulsory funding contributions will come from precept payment by London inhabitants, the tax payer funding the London Development Agency (‘LDA') and, ultimately, the tax payer underwriting and covering any eventual shortfall. Should any surplus be made from the Games, then the Lottery and the London tax payer stand to benefit. There is also a mechanism for funding any initial shortfall, the burden of which will fall on London inhabitants through the precept, and on the LDA. There is an additional clause addressing further shortfalls but this is somewhat imprecise in that it refers to an agreement yet to be finalised with the Mayor of London and the Lottery.

2.2 FIT does not hold sufficient information to assess and take a view on the quantum of funding needed. The sums involved will no doubt appear very large indeed to the man on the Clapham omnibus and the woman on the train to Dundee, but FIT is of the view that the Games needs funding at the appropriate level. What FIT also emphasises is the need for the most robust financial planning and management and forward going estimates revised on a regular basis. Transparent communication is vitally important in order that the public can understand and, it is anticipated, support the levels of investment required.

2.3 FIT also asserts that, most importantly, investment in community-based sport and recreational facilities and opportunities throughout the UK should be protected. There must be no reductions in such funding because of the levels of funding needed for a successful Olympic Games between now and 2012. This principle should apply to exchequer and lottery funding. An assessment of funding into community sport and recreation at the community level over the past six years (2000 to 2006) should provide a minimum baseline, adjusted for retail price index movements, over the next six years to 2012.

3 Ways of maximising the value of the Olympic legacy both within London and across the UK

3.1 The nation has expectations of a clear and understandable legacy or legacies arising out of the Games. These expectations arise out of the substance of the bid itself, supported by political and media comment concerning what sorts of benefits might or should arise, together with the concomitant debates on geographical spread, need and investment.

3.2 FIT accepts that there are areas of national life beyond sport and recreation that, rightly, expect to gain from the Games. These include employment, regeneration and tourism. The area around London, particularly the Games site itself and its environs, and areas further afield where Games training and events are to take place stand to benefit in these ways. There is a claim from the cultural lobby to inherit a legacy. FIT regards all this as valid and valuable and lends its full support.

3.3 London is shouldering a substantial portion of the costs of hosting the Games, as outlined in the Memorandum. FIT acknowledges that the priority for benefit should be with London. It will enjoy particular lasting improvements arising out of the infrastructure to be developed for the Games, the ongoing uses of the site itself and the regeneration of other parts of London, such as the Lea valley and the Thames Gateway.

4 How the nations and regions of the UK might derive lasting benefit from the staging of the Games, in particular through encouraging participation in sport and increasing tourism

4.1 This submissions now turns to what are considered to be the characteristics of an appropriate Games' legacy. These reflect the FIT's own objectives. This section deals with matters of principle and policy, not with detail.

4.2 FIT applauds the vision of the Games and the commitment ‘to capture the imagination of young people around the world and leave a lasting legacy'. The FIT proposals that follow reflect this - outdoor facilities for sport, recreation and play for local communities, particularly children and young people, well managed and well used, and protected in the long term, that is in perpetuity, for the people of the UK.

4.3 Such a sporting legacy is a natural and appropriate outcome of the Games, based on active lifestyles, community engagement, operational sustainability and the long term protection of public access to and use of such facilities, and the capture of their asset value. 2012, therefore, presents a unique opportunity for sport and related activity to make the case for the investment necessary to increase participation for the benefit of the people's health, enjoyment and fulfilment, to raise the nation's sporting vision, to improve the public realm and to provide positive solutions for some of society's problems.

5 The FIT Legacy Proposal

5.1 FIT has submitted a proposal to LOCOG for including, as part of the official legacy of the Games, a project that would attract funding to improve and protect 2012 sites throughout the UK for outdoor sport, recreation and play, with ancillary indoor facilities as required. This would provide a co-ordinated network of sites established for and accessible to large sections of the UK population. As a result of this initiative, communities would have near to them good quality, attractive places for developing sporting potential and healthy outdoor recreation. Protection through the FIT's deed of dedication, as agreed with the Charity Commission, would ensure that these sites were protected for the long term, thereby ensuring a real legacy for future generations. Other Legacy initiatives specifically based on participation would have a raft of sites at hand ideally suited to their projects.

6 Conclusion

6.1 FIT welcomes the Committee's Inquiry and wishes to stress the importance of investment in UK based local facilities for outdoor sport, recreation and play, operational sustainable and protected in the long-term. If invited, FIT would be delighted to give oral evidence to the Committee.

7 Further contact

7.1 Should you have any queries or require further information please contact Alison Moore-Gwyn 0n 020 7833 5361 or 07747 866451, email Alison.moore-gwyn@XXXX or Don Earley on 024 76 426622 or 07957 846552, email don.earley@XXXXX

Alison Moore-Gwyn
Chief Executive
Fields In Trust
6 October 2006

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