UK Sport

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
the national lottery
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn
  • About us
    • Our Directors Team
    • Our Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Our partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact us
    • Media centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Talent identification
    • Coaching
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Leadership, development & governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • Curling
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • Para-Rowing
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Annual reports
    • Board minutes
    • British Cycling independent review
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports
    • Privacy policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • Recruitment framework
    • The Whyte Review
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and open data
    • Welsh language scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Jobs in sport
    • Submit a job
  • About us
    • Our Directors Team
    • Our Board
    • Panels
    • Strategic Plan 2021-31
    • Our partners
    • English Institute of Sport
    • Accessibility
    • Contact us
    • Media centre
    • FAQs
    • Working at UK Sport
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Talent identification
    • Coaching
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Leadership, development & governance
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • Canoeing
    • Curling
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • Para-Rowing
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Annual reports
    • Board minutes
    • British Cycling independent review
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • High Performance System Advisory Group
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports
    • Privacy policies
    • Publication Scheme
    • Recruitment framework
    • The Whyte Review
    • Tenders
    • Transparency and open data
    • Welsh language scheme
  • Jobs in sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Jobs in sport
    • Submit a job
Press Enter to Search
News

2012 must create a true legacy for sport, says Steele

Published 7 December 2006

Following the euphoria of winning the Olympic and Paralympic Games for London in 2005, it was inevitable that this year’s debate about its staging would turn to more practical and detailed matters.  It is absolutely right that the focus now is on policy – around regeneration, transport, housing and other key political issues – and of course around cost.  It is such a mammoth project that the right decisions must not only be taken but also scrutinised appropriately along the way.

At the same time like many people in sport I am anxious that this does not remain the only focus of the debate around the staging of and – crucially – the legacy for London 2012.   At the heart of all discussions and debate around the pros and cons of the Games - the venues, the regeneration and its impact both nationally and on the rest of the world - must be sport.   Just as Lord Coe so memorably asked the voting IOC delegates to “choose sport”, so must we ensure that the true legacy coming out of the Games in six years time is sporting – from grassroots to elite, from local involvement and facilities to making a lasting impression on people’s lives in countries across the world.  Without it, I believe a once in a lifetime opportunity will have been lost.

To achieve this, more than anything we need to focus on a legacy of success.  Subsequent to his inspirational vision in Singapore, Lord Coe has left everyone in no doubt as to what he thinks will represent success at London 2012: "Britain performing well in these Games is not the icing on the cake. It's pretty well the whole ingredient; it's crucial."

This belief formed the basis of UK Sport’s submission to the Government earlier this year for additional funding for Olympic and Paralympic sport ahead of 2012.  To aim to be the best we can be: to inspire not only this but future generations to choose sport and ultimately follow in the footsteps of their London heroes.  It was this vision, backed by a comprehensive investment strategy that was acknowledged by the Treasury to be one of the best ever put forward by a sporting body, that secured the additional £300 million package we need to fund all Olympic and Paralympic sports over the next six years.  

Combined with the transfer of performance responsibilities to UK Sport from Sport England announced in April, this funding can transform the UK’s high performance system forever.  We can also put sports in the spotlight like never before – showing them off to a nation previously oblivious of the skill and dedication needed to succeed.  At the time of writing British Handball has around 600 accredited players, compared to over a million in Germany.  UK Sport is putting nearly £3 million into the sport in the next three years, with more to come after the Beijing Games.  Who knows what the lasting impact of this will be if the GB Handball team does well at London 2012?  But our ambition is clear.


The legacy could be greater still for Paralympic sport.  London is the birthplace of the Paralympic Games – what Athens is to the Olympics.  We are aiming in 2012 to top the medal table, and if we achieve our goals then the impact on public perceptions around disability could be profound.  Chris Holmes, our most successful ever Paralympic swimmer and now a UK Sport Board Member, put it well: “Athletes have a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver the goods for the Nation.  The extra investment and support now going into sport provides the potential, in summer 2012, to produce one moment in time, to change attitudes and perceptions of the Paralympics and disabled people, for the rest of time."     

That is my legacy for London 2012.  One where sport is not just the purpose of the Games themselves, but the vehicle for so much positive and permanent change.

 

This article is based on a speech made by John Steele at the “Countdown to London 2012 – How will the Games Deliver for the Country” Conference in London. 

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
News
Team of Tomorrow image with lined up athletes from left to right, Ben Cumberland, Megan Farrer,  Thomas Young, Tom Hattee, and Ellie Challis.
UK Sport launches Environmental Sustainability Strategy to protect ‘Team of Tomorrow’
28 March 2023
five athletes sat on stage in mid disussion
International Relations Seminar 2023
21 March 2023
Eilish crossing the line celebrating with her arms in the air
New research shows British public support athletes speaking out and driving social change
8 March 2023
Sport jobs in the UK
Find & advertise UK based sports jobs here
Read more
Funding Partners
  • DCMS
  • TNL partners
Strategic Partners
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • english institute of sport logo
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • UK Sport editorial policy
  • Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • Website terms
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies policy
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2023