Sport sector warns government over investment

Swimming is one of the country's most popular sports

Leaders across the sport and physical-activity sector have jointly written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, warning that if they are not prioritised in government spending plans, it will "risk the decline or closure of more facilities and clubs".

The letter, seen by BBC Sport, has been signed by organisations including the Youth Sport Trust, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, gym and leisure-centre body Ukactive and the Sport for Development Coalition.

In it, they say that next week's Spending Review, which will outline departmental budgets, "marks a crucial moment of opportunity."

"We believe now, more than ever, is the time to unlock fully the true potential of the sport, recreation and physical activity sector," they write.

"Failure to do this will risk… a reduction in physical activity levels, a negative impact on physical and mental health, greater health inequalities and lower productivity."

A government spokesperson said: "Everyone must be able to access and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities, including children and people with disabilities.

"By delivering our plan for change we can create a more active nation, revive grassroot sport clubs in communities and give our young people the best start in life."

According to Ukactive and Swim England, more than 200 pools in the country have closed since 2020.

On Tuesday, Tim Hollingsworth, the outgoing chairman of Sport England, told MPs that the funding agency had been "very supported" by the government in terms of investment.

However, he also told the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee: "What I think has been less so has been the wider government mission, and what we can do to contribute to that.

"So whether it's the health benefits to the nation, and being more preventative, whether it's thinking about schools and the way we think about not just health and well-being of children, but their behaviour and attendance [or] whether it's criminal justice".

In the joint letter, which has also been signed by Active Partnerships and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the bodies tell Starmer: "As a lover of sport and physical activity, we know you understand its unique power to unite the country, to make people healthier and happier, and positively shape and transform lives.

"Following last summer's successful Olympic and Paralympic Games you publicly recognised this.

"Our sector generates social and economic value worth more than £107bn annually…but there is huge untapped potential being left on the bench.

"The UK's physical activity levels rank 11th out of 15 comparable European nations and the most recent participation data shows significant inequalities remain across different demographic groups and communities."

In April, Sport England claimed that record numbers of people in the country were now playing sport or taking part in physical activity, but said there is "still much to do".