Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd, and it's a real pleasure for me to open this debate today, tabled in the name of Darren Millar. And what a time it is to be debating this topic, with our recent sporting successes and Wales playing in the Euros this afternoon—and I, like you, Llywydd, hope we finish in time today to catch the kick-off of the match against Turkey. The last few years have shown that perhaps there's never been a better time to be a fan of Welsh sport. 

Sport is one of the few things in our country, and even in this Chamber, that has the power to unite us all. I'm sure that Members from across the Senedd celebrated with enthusiasm when Kieffer Moore scored his equaliser on Saturday against Switzerland, because watching Wales is a communal experience that makes us proud of who we are and proud to be Welsh. We see ourselves in our sporting heroes, our shared experiences, our love of our country and our determination to succeed. 

But these are the same reasons why people across Wales celebrated when Andy Murray won Wimbledon, or Rory McIlroy wins a golf major, or when Mo Farah wins an Olympic gold for team GB. Because we see ourselves in these sporting heroes too. Because people in Wales are also very proud to be British; we see our British identity in these athletes, and those shared experiences and values I mentioned earlier. Because we understand that we can be both proud to be Welsh and British, and that's no contradiction.

But the reason this debate has been submitted today isn't just to revel in our sporting success; it's to recognise the benefits of sport in our society, our economy and our everyday lives. The economic case for investing in sport is very clear. Recent research conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University found that for every £1 invested in sport in Wales, there is a return of £2.88, whilst major events held in the Millennium Stadium alone are estimated to boost the Welsh economy by £32 million every year in Welsh economic output, with £11 million of this being gross value added, as well as the role it plays in supporting jobs in the supply chain.

It's disappointing, therefore, that the Welsh Labour Government hasn't fully realised Wales's economic and sporting potential. For example, the Welsh Government decided not to progress with a bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite the Welsh Government's own feasibility study outlining many benefits to our economy, such as the creation of additional jobs and income for Welsh businesses, which are things that Glasgow benefited from when they hosted the 2014 games.

But it's not just in elite sport that we see the benefits of proper investment. The Welsh NHS spends about £35 million each year treating preventable diseases caused by physical inactivity. So, that's why we want to see increased investment in participation in sport in our communities across Wales. That's why we're calling in our motion today to invest in a larger network of 3G and 4G pitches throughout Wales, and our ask to enable free access to local authority gyms and leisure centres for young people. That should mean that the people of Wales have access to good-quality sporting facilities in their areas and communities, regardless of their skill level or postcode.

Our motion also calls for the Welsh Government to build the sporting excellence of tomorrow in Wales by establishing a Welsh talent sporting fund to support talented Welsh athletes on the world stage, and a network of Welsh sports ambassadors to encourage young people into sport. Because unless we invest in our sporting heroes today, we will never be in the position to celebrate their sporting achievements tomorrow and secure Wales's place on the sporting world stage.

I'm also sure that every Member in this Senedd will be aware of sporting groups and clubs in their constituencies and regions that have struggled in the last year or so. In fact, sport may well be one of the hardest hit sectors since the onset of the pandemic. According to the Football Association of Wales Trust, for example, grass-roots football clubs have lost, on average, £7,000 each, and 97 per cent of football clubs say they've been affected financially, and over half have said they'll lose volunteers. Meanwhile, the Welsh Rugby Union has described the pandemic as catastrophic to its sport, particularly with the financial impact on the grass-roots game. That's why the motion has a plan to turn this situation around, not only by increasing participation, but also creating a community sport bounce-back fund to support these community clubs following the pandemic.

So, it's for these reasons that it's really disappointing to see the Welsh Government taking their usual 'delete all' approach to our motion, particularly when it makes specific calls that will deliver real change for people in Wales. The amendments literally delete the prospect of a post-pandemic recovery for some of these sports clubs, and do very little to increase participation in sport in Wales. We all know that all of us can do more to support the sector, and that's why we will not be voting for their amendments tonight; we’ll be abstaining on them.

By contrast, I'd like to welcome Plaid Cymru's second amendment to increase the amount of teenage girls and people from under-represented backgrounds in sport. I think it's a vital and very topical one, and I congratulate Plaid Cymru on doing that. The proposals by the FAW to restructure the women's league, for example, do nothing to increase participation of teenage girls in football whatsoever. For that reason, we'll be supporting the second Plaid Cymru amendment today.

Therefore, I ask Members from across the Senedd to support our motion today, as we know the best way to have a successful sporting tomorrow is to support it today.