Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. I’d like to start by congratulating our Welsh Olympians on the way they represented Wales, showing yet again the winning mentality of our country and, of course, I’d like to congratulate the Paralympians currently competing in Rio. I’d like to also congratulate the Welsh football team for their really impressive win over Moldova to get the World Cup qualifiers under way. The players and the fans have already won over Europe this summer with their passion and skill and let’s hope that we can go on to the World Cup—the world’s biggest sporting event. I have high hopes for the women’s team also as they begin their campaign for the World Cup, and I look forward, like everyone, to the Champions League final in the millennium stadium.

Of course, there are some in the Chamber who view our independent football team as petty nationalism, and they’re happy to risk our status as an independent football nation based on their own ideological UK nationalism. It’s time for everybody to get behind our team and our country—Wales. There is no greater honour—no higher honour—than playing for Wales and representing our country. To do what our Olympians and footballers have done takes ambition, which they certainly can’t be getting from the Welsh Government. I’m still astonished, really, that Labour turned down the chance to bid for the Commonwealth Games. It is one of the biggest international sporting events there is, and if you speak to Welsh athletes—Welsh sportsmen—the event they most look forward to is the Commonwealth Games, because they wear the jersey of Wales and the vest of Wales. You can talk about horizon scanning all you want, but the Commonwealth Games is the major sporting event you should have bid for. If there is a lack of venues—as there is—then it shows how much your Government has failed and is still failing. It’s incredible, really.

There are a number of serious questions, actually, that are left unanswered. First, the last time you made a statement like this, I asked you to come down to Grangetown to meet the kids who can’t afford to play football on the council pitches. But, you didn’t actually reply to that, so I will extend the invitation again. Will you accompany me to Grangetown and speak to the children who are unable to afford grass-roots football? [Interruption.] Yes, I agree; there are other places as well. But, in this constituency, just a stone’s throw away, a walk down the road, you can see the reality faced by our communities.

Secondly, while I welcome the success of our elite athletes, I’m concerned about the Government’s support for some of our other sports—or the lack of it, really—and I’d like to see greater support for sports like rugby league and baseball, which is so unique, really, in Wales. I would like to find out what initiatives or support you have for maybe supporting these other sports. In these sports—and I will just talk about rugby league—there are some all-time greats: Billy Boston, born in Tiger Bay. I think we should be doing something to remember people like him and people like the late Gus Risman as well. There is potential in boxing to get some huge events in the city, but I will ask some questions on the Commonwealth Games.

I would like to know: when was the decision made not to bid for the games? It’s interesting that you mentioned Glasgow because, for the Glasgow games, a significant part of the cost was met by local authorities. So, did the Welsh Government specifically ask local authorities if they would be prepared to make a contribution towards the Welsh Commonwealth Games? Did the Welsh Government ask the UK Government for any financial support, given that the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, said that they would provide financial support for any successful UK city bid? When did the Welsh Government let the Commonwealth Games and Sport Wales know of the decision not to bid?

Finally, I want to touch on an event—Pride Cymru. It was our friends across the road again, Cardiff council, who cancelled the event in Coopers Field without actually telling the organisers. I met with them the day before yesterday. I would ask you if you would support requesting that Cardiff council give over a specific date for a Pride Cymru event in the civic centre, and whether or not you would be prepared to add some financial support for that event. It’s a brilliant spectacle for the city. It’s a great event, which breaks down barriers, and it should be supported. Diolch yn fawr. Thank you.