Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn, announced today that Nigel Walker, the former Olympian and Welsh Rugby Union player, has been appointed to the board of UK Sport.
Walker represented Britain at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, competing in the 110m hurdles. He went on to win bronze medals at the 1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships and European Championships, before switching his attention to Rugby Union, winning 17 caps for Wales between 1993 and 1998.
Head of Sport at BBC Wales since 2001, Walker was previously a Development Officer at the Sports Council for Wales from 1993-2000 and then Assistant Team Manager at the Welsh Rugby Union from 2000-2001. At the same time he was developing a career in the media and it is this mixture of business, media and international sporting expertise that will bring valuable experience to the UK Sport board.
"I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel Walker to the board of UK Sport," said Caborn. "He has an illustrious sporting career winning medals and caps from sporting events held all over the World. His international sporting experience will make an invaluable contribution to UK Sport as it works to develop our success at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
UK Sport Chair, Sue Campbell, also welcomed the former Cardiff wing’s appointment.
"The UK Sport board has a tremendous responsibility in overseeing and directing work not just in high performance sport but in international relations, major events and anti-doping as well, all against the backdrop of London 2012. We have a high quality of experience and expertise already in place and Nigel’s knowledge of both competing in and administering sport will be significant and welcome," she said.
Walker himself expressed his pleasure at the prospect of working towards the future success of sport in the UK.
"I am delighted and privileged to be appointed to the board of UK Sport at such an exciting and challenging time. I look forward to contributing to the considerable effort being made to ensure sport in the UK is a success not just in the short term, but in the medium and long term too."