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Listed Sporting Events

Indeed. I am minded to note that the last time there was a listed events review was in 1998, which was, I think, also the last time that the rugby league challenge cup final was won by Wigan Warriors. No, that was the super league grand final win. I begin by reaffirming the Government's view that we recognise the importance of ensuring that as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy our most important sporting events on free-to-air TV. We all recognise that sport is a central part of the national fabric, of our national identity, and of what makes up the kind of society we are. As my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) said, nothing can quite replicate the excitement and the passion that can be generated by our great sporting events. Only last year, we saw the passion that surrounded British participants in the Olympics and the Paralympics, next year we will have the World cup in South Africa, and in 2012 we will have the Olympics in London. We want to ensure—there will be no doubt about it—that those kinds of national and centrally important sporting events—