Communities and Culture Committee Y Pwyllgor Y Pwyllgor Cymunedau a Diwylliant To consultees on the attached list Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1NA November 2009 Dear Colleague, Communities and Culture Committee The National Assembly for Wales’ Communities and Culture Committee is calling for evidence for its inquiry into ‘Making the most of Major Sporting Events.’ Background With the Ryder Cup less than one year away1, and the Olympic Games only three years away2, we consider that it is be timely for us to scrutinise the ongoing actions of the Welsh Government in its preparations for making the most of major sporting events. We intend to scrutinise the Government in terms of its use of these events to encourage and widen participation in sports and physical activity, how the Welsh Government defines and supports ‘major sporting events’ and how it supports national sports development and people selected for Welsh national sports squads. This Inquiry will provide the opportunity for us to investigate the Welsh Government’s approach to the Ryder Cup, in particular the lessons that can be learned from work relating to legacy projects, and to see if, or how, these lessons 1 October 1 to 3, 2010: http://www.rydercupwales2010.com/en/fe/page.asp?n1=3 2 2012 Olympic Games, 27 July-12 Aug 2012; 2012 Paralympic Games, 29 Aug-9 Sept 2012: http://www.london2012.com/ Ffon / Tel: 029 20 898373 Ffacs / Fax: 6090 Minicom: 029 2082 3280 E-bost / E-mail:[email protected] can, or are being, applied to preparations for the Olympic Games, and other major sporting events. We are aware that work is ongoing in this area, in particular through the recently published Climbing Higher Action Plan and the report on the Performance and Excellence Sport Review, but believe this inquiry will provide an opportunity for a stock-take to assess whether Welsh Government policy is maximising the potential benefits of the major opportunities on our immediate horizon. Terms of Reference To examine the activities of the Welsh Government, its delivery bodies and other national organisations in relation to major sporting events, in particular: • The activities related to the Ryder Cup, the lessons learned to date, and how they might be used to maximise the benefits of the Olympic Games’ legacy activities; • The structures, planning processes, coordination and organisation of activities across all Welsh Government portfolio areas and engagement with the wider stakeholder community; • The limitations faced by the Welsh Government in maximising the benefits of major events such as the Olympic Games when the events themselves are held in the UK and therefore direct influence of Welsh Government policy might be limited; • How the Welsh Government’s major sporting events work might effect lasting positive change in communities, such as through widening participation in sports and physical activity through major sporting events, especially in those sectors that usually face barriers to access sporting activity; • How the Welsh Government can encourage major sporting events to take place in Wales. Invitation to contribute to the inquiry Interested parties are invited to submit written evidence to the Clerk of the Committee at the above address, to arrive no later than Friday 15 January 2010. If possible, please supply an electronic version in MS Word or Rich Text format, by e mail to [email protected] Please indicate in your paper whether you would be interested in presenting your views to the Committee in person. Please begin your submission by providing some information about yourself, or your organisation, before setting out your views and experiences in relation to some or all of the following areas. What we'd like from you - consultation questions 1. What contribution can major sporting events potentially have, in effecting lasting positive change in communities? What contribution can major sporting events potentially have in widening participation in sports and physical activity, especially in those sectors that usually face barriers to access sporting activity? 2. How can this contribution be maximised, and what barriers are there to ensuring major sporting events are able to effect lasting positive change in communities? How can such barriers be overcome? 3. What support (including, but not limited to, financial support) does the Welsh Government currently provide to maximise the contributions of major sporting events, in effecting lasting positive change? 4. What support does the Welsh Government currently provide to encourage major sporting events to take place in Wales, and should it be seeking to increase the number of major sporting events taking place in Wales? 5. What action could the Welsh Government take to improve planning and co- ordination of major sporting events? 6. How coordinated are different Welsh Government departments in engaging with the wider stakeholder community, to assist in maximising the contribution of major sporting events? 7. What lessons can be learnt from planning for major sporting events, such as the Ryder Cup, and how can these be used to maximise the benefits of other major sporting events’ legacy activities, such as the Olympic Games? 8. What opportunities exist to share lessons learned from planning for major sporting events? 9. What support does the Welsh Government currently provide to developing national sports? 10. Are there any specific recommendations you think should be considered as part of this inquiry? The Committee has invited submissions from those on the attached distribution list (Annex 1). However, we would be grateful if you could forward a copy of the letter to any individuals or organisations that are not included but might like to contribute to the review. A copy of this letter has been placed on the National Assembly’s website with an open invitation to submit views. Disclosure of Information Witnesses should be aware that once written evidence has been submitted to the Committee it is treated as the property of the Committee. It is the Committee’s intention to place written papers on its website, and may subsequently be printed with the report. The National Assembly will not publish information which it considers to be personal data. However, in the event of a request for information submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, it may be necessary to disclose the information that you provide. This may include information which has previously been removed by the National Assembly for publication purposes. If you are providing any information, other than personal data, which you feel is not suitable for public disclosure, or if you do not wish your identity, as author of the evidence, to be disclosed, this must be clearly identified and it is up to you to stipulate which parts should not be published, and to provide a reasoned argument to support this. The National Assembly will take this into account when publishing information or responding to requests for information. Further information about the Committee and its inquiry can be found at: Yours sincerely Janice Gregory Chair, Communities and Culture Committee Annex 1 ABCD - Access for Black and Minority Ethnic Children and Young People with Disabilities Action for Children Age Concern All Wales Ethnic Minority Association All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers Anti Poverty Network Cymru Arfon District Sports Council Arriva Trains Wales Assistant Police Liaison Officer Asian Women’s Group Association of Directors of Education in Wales Association of Directors of Social Services Association of Teachers and Lecturers Cymru Association of Voluntary Organisations – Wrexham Arfon District Sports Council Autism Cymru Bangladeshi Welfare Association Bangladeshi Women’s Group Barnardos Cymru Bed and Breakfast Association Bevan Foundation Big Lottery Fund Black Association of Women Stepping Out Black Environment Network Black Voluntary Sector Network Wales Blaenau Gwent County Council Bridgend County Borough Council British Olympic Association British Horse Society (Wales) British Hospitality Association British Olympic Association Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust Caerphilly County Borough Council Canolfan Tryweryn - The National Whitewater Centre, Frongoch, Bala, Gwynedd Capital Region Tourism Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust Cardiff Athletics Stadium, Cardiff Cardiff Central Youth Club, Cardiff Cardiff Council Cardiff Harbour Authority, Cardiff Bay Cardiff Cardiff Humanists Cardiff International Arena Cardiff University Dr. Andrea Collins, Cardiff University Calvin Jones, Cardiff University Carmarthenshire County Council Carmarthenshire NHS Trust CBI Wales Celtic Manor Resort Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust Ceredigion County Council Children in Wales Chwarae Teg Children’s Social Services Inspectorate Wales Children’s Commissioner for Wales Chinese Community Service Committee Church in Wales Clubs for Young People Wales Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs Commonwealth Games Council for Wales Continuous professional development Community Health Councils Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust Conwy County Borough Council Councils for voluntary action Council for Wales Voluntary Youth Services Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs Crossroads Wales Cymru Yfory Cytun – Churches Together in Wales Cwmbran Stadium, Cwmbran, Torfaen Deaf Association Wales Deeside College, Flintshire Denbighshire County Council Department for Culture, Media & Sport Disability Wales Disability Sport Wales Dragon Sport Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Dyfed Powys Police Authority English Institute