I would like to join the Cabinet Secretary in welcoming home all the Welsh athletes who contributed to this record-breaking Team GB medal haul at the Rio Olympics and Paralympic Games. As the Cabinet Secretary has said, this homecoming event is a great opportunity to thank these inspirational athletes and, of course, all those people who have been involved in training them and supporting them, and family members as well. I was particularly pleased that we had athletes from every part of Wales taking place and contributing to Team GB’s success in Rio this summer. I had thought it couldn’t get any better after the success we had in reaching the final stages of Euro 2016, and now, of course, we’ve got the Wales Olympic and Paralympic athletes to join in our celebrations and party as well.

But, of course, we mustn’t underestimate the way in which Welsh sporting success inspires the next generation. Sporting success plays a key role in encouraging participation in sport, particularly, as well, increasing public health and creating an ongoing legacy for our elite athletes. With this in mind, I do hope the Welsh Government will follow through on its commitment. I was pleased to see, in the programme for government last week, that line on hosting major sporting events—I was pleased to see that in there—because, of course, hosting such events can only create and support our economy, and lots of social change can take place as a result of hosting those kinds of events. I’ve heard your comments, Cabinet Secretary, with regard to the Commonwealth Games. I was disappointed. I just did feel that the Welsh Government, sort of, lacked ambition to host the Commonwealth Games. I would just ask you, perhaps, to square up those two issues with regard to the programme for government and hosting the games.

I’d perhaps ask the Cabinet Secretary this: would you agree with me that we must market Wales as a world-class sports venue, by particularly working closely with local government, transport operators and sports organisations to ensure that transport and facilities can cope with increased visitor numbers? Such major sporting events not only spark our national pride, but they also boost tourism levels in Wales. They can also, of course, support the broader public health agenda as well.

But I would like to just finish by congratulating again the athletes and welcoming them home this week at the event on Thursday. I also hope that the Welsh Government will support our elite athletes to enable them to go from strength to strength in the future.