5. 5. Statement: The Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games Homecoming 2016

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:39 pm on 27 September 2016.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 4:39, 27 September 2016

Well, I think it’s phenomenal, the success of Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark in the 470 sailing. They join a very exclusive group of Welsh women who’ve been crowned Olympic champions, which is steadily increasing, including Barker, Jones, Mills, Irene Steer and Nicole Cooke. And, also, of course, in the cycling team pursuit, Owain Doull and Elinor Barker, who both hail from the same cycling club, the Maindy Flyers in Cardiff, performed remarkably well. I think Owain was the youngest of the male quartet, and was described by Sir Bradley Wiggins as the most accomplished rider since Geraint Thomas. That is quite an attribute to be given by the world’s greatest cyclist—current cyclist. Of course, Elinor helped the Team GB girls defeat world champions USA with a third world record in the gold-medal race. Quite incredible achievements.

I am also aware of the work that the Member herself has done in terms of saving Llanishen reservoir, and I’d like to put on record how thankful I am that the constituency that she represents has such a dedicated Member, who is determined to open up opportunities for people to take up sport and physical activity.

Another great contribution that sport makes to life is that it often helps young people who are at risk of disengaging from formal education, or who have disengaged from education, to rediscover learning through the discipline of sport. For young people who have disengaged, it’s often difficult for them to see the woods for the trees, but, through sport and through regular participation, they can do, and that’s another role that our national governing bodies, that Sport Wales, and that sports clubs and organisations across Wales, do.