Written question asked by Hugh Robertson (Conservative) on Monday, 21 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Jowell (Labour) on Thursday, 24 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether it is her policy that new sports facilities built in London should support the London 2012 bid.

Answer: Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy that new sports facilities built in London should support the London 2012 bid. [223692] Tessa Jowell: The plans for the London 2012 Olympic venues have been developed in close co-operation with sports bodies to ensure that, if the bid is successful, facilities meet the needs of sports in the capital and around the country for many years to come. On 16 March, Sport England launched Active Places Power, which has been designed to help local authorities and sports organisations to identify gaps in provision and to form strategies for sports facility investment. This will be particularly important if London stages the 2012 Olympic games, in order to plan for new training venues around the country. At present, the UK does not have adequate training facilities for domestic or visiting athletes and the new Lee Valley athletics centre, at Pickett's Lock, is just one example of a facility that will help to meet this shortfall, thus complimenting the proposed Olympic venue competition provision.

Secondary information