8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the 2016 European Football Championship legacy for Wales? OAQ(5)0037(FM)[W]

Wel, mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru ac Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed Cymru yn bwriadu defnyddio Ewro 2016 fel catalydd i wella pêl-droed yng Nghymru. Fe fydd yna ddatganiad yn hwyrach y prynhawn yma ar hwn. A gaf i gymryd y cyfle hwn, felly, i ddweud ‘pob lwc’ i’r tîm ar ran y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn gyfan gwbl, os gallaf i? Rydym wedi sicrhau ein bod ni yna, ond byddai’n bleser mawr i weld buddugoliaethau dros yr wythnosau nesaf, yn enwedig wrth gwrs ar 16 Mehefin, yr wythnos nesaf.

I will endorse those words by the First Minister as we turn to a European issue that all of us in this Chamber can agree on. I know that we all want to wish our national team well. It would be a very strange thing if I didn’t refer to the particular contribution by those from Anglesey to the national team, and I’m particularly pleased to wish Osian Roberts, a member of the coaching staff, well and Wayne Hennessey in goal. I will mention the work behind the scenes by Trefor Lloyd Hughes over the past few years. But, would the First Minister agree with me that we now need to use the success of this squad, and the success that hopefully will be achieved in France, as a springboard, and that we need to use the squad as a role model not only to enhance Wales’s profile and to promote football as a sport, but also to promote physical activity, which is so important to public health?

There are two things here that are important: first of all, to ensure that young people participate in sport and see football as an activity to improve their health and, secondly, of course, to ensure that the profile of Wales is raised not just in Europe, but across the world. We saw what happened in 1990 with the Republic of Ireland when they went to the world cup. It had a huge impact on their economy and in terms of tourism. I had a meeting with officials this week to see what kind of preparations have been undertaken in order to raise Wales’s profile in France. That work is progressing well, not only in Paris, of course, but also in the three cities where the matches will be played—well, where the first three matches will be played—by the Welsh team.

The legacy of Wales’s football success will be in our young people. In Newport, we have 1,699 active junior players playing in 140 teams and 16 clubs. In addition to this, we have a successful academy system at Newport County, who support and develop our stars of tomorrow. Will the First Minister ensure that the Welsh Government will continue to work with the FAW to support and nurture the talent of our future football stars in Wales?

Absolutely. It was my pleasure to open the academy in Newport, the national academy. We did provide financial help to the FAW in order for it to be set up. It is hugely important to have modern facilities with access to good coaching at the elite level of sport in order for there to be a high level of performance. But, it is important as well to make sure that facilities are in place to encourage people to play sport at all levels and that’s exactly what we will continue to do, working with organisations like Sport Wales.

The Wrexham Supporters Trust director, Spencer Harris, said earlier this week:

‘Having Wales in the European Championships is massive for a club like ourselves.... Wales at a tournament is the perfect opportunity to help our club.’

How, therefore, will your Government work with people like Spencer Harris to ensure that that legacy—the Euro 2016 legacy—reaches Wrexham and all corners of Wales?

It’s important to understand that, and that’s why we’ve been working with the FAW and the trust to make sure that the anticipated success of the Welsh team is reflected across all corners of our nation, but particularly of course that it is seen as a help in terms of driving investment in the economy and tourism in all parts of Wales for months and years to come.

It’s good to hear that the footballing authorities in Wales are planning to use the European championships as a way of creating a future legacy for sport in Wales and I hope that that does, in fact, take place. But, in the short term, before we establish the legacy, there’s the actual event itself. It’s good news that we have fanzones now being created in Swansea and in Cardiff, so that more people can actually participate in the public enjoyment of the Euros. Is it worth considering whether the Government could support similar fanzones in major population centres in the other regions of Wales? [Interruption.]

Okay, thank you.

One of the issues with fanzones—. I’ve seen something from Cardiff and I believe that Swansea and perhaps Newport have similar plans—they’ve not sought help from Government. From our perspective of course, we have to be careful. If we offer support for one, it has to be support for all and there’s a limit of course to the amount of financial support that can be offered. But, I do welcome the fact that fanzones are being set up and that they will be set up across many towns and cities in Wales.

Thank you, First Minister.