30th ANNIVERSARY OF SPORTSAID

Early day motion 1848, tabled 20 March 2006 by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative). Signed by 124 members.

That this House congratulates SportsAid, the charity for sports people, on its 30th anniversary in 2006; acknowledges the £20 million distributed by the charity in this time; welcomes its relaunch in the regions through the roadshows taking place this year aiming to raise awareness of its mission and objectives; recognises the vital role it plays in funding future sports stars between the ages of 11 to 16 years when other forms of funding are unavailable; notes SportsAid's active role in the Government-backed Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme providing the critical link between participation and excellence without which many emerging stars such as Shelley Rudman would have had to give up on their ambitions; understands the assistance that SportsAid gave to sporting legends such as Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Kelly Holmes and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson; acknowledges that SportsAid helped 15 of the 17 British Gold Medallists and over half the British Team at Athens 2004; believes that it is vital for the success of UK athletes at London 2012 and beyond to continue to receive financial assistance from SportsAid through public and private sector donations and associations; supports the role of SportsAid as a critical conduit for private sector funding to complement Government funding; and calls on all possible partners to support SportsAid in its work allowing young people to reach their full sporting potential.

Signatures by party: Labour 66, Conservative 30, Liberal Democrat 20, DUP 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.