I'm grateful for the opportunity to take part in this Welsh Conservative debate today on a subject that has played, and continues to play, an important part in my life. Since a very early age, I've been an active participant in sport. Whilst always enthusiastic, I can't claim to have ever been that particularly good at any one sport. However, I am a great advocate of the physical and mental health benefits that sport brings to an individual's life. And I'm lucky that Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire have such an active sporting community, boasting many Welsh sporting heroes: Narberth's own footballing ace, Joe Allen; Bancyfelin's British and Irish Lion, Jonathan Davies; and Carmarthen-born cycling gold medalist, Manon Lloyd, have all represented their country at the highest level and are role models to many. 

I've certainly learnt many social skills from the rugby and cricket changing rooms from an early age, and I know others have too. Amid the lingering smell of Deep Heat, team sport is all about being in it together—your teammates having your back and you theirs. The shared experiences from being on the field, pitch or court help build bonds and build character. It also teaches people from a young age the value of working hard to achieve your goals. If you're putting in the practice, the hard yards through training, then there are no barriers to the personal milestones that you can reach. Sport too is a great social mobiliser. When the opportunities are there, the limit of your potential should only be the talent you possess.

During the lockdown, sport provided salvation and escape. As the lockdowns began to take their toll on our mental health, the return of a kickabout with friends or a day in the sunshine playing cricket provided much needed social interaction and helped those, including myself, who had struggled with being locked down. It also helped some of us lose some lockdown weight, but my mother is quick to remind me that I've swiftly put that back on. I'm not oblivious to the irony that our debate today may lead to proceedings in the Chamber running over the Wales-Turkey European championship kick-off. I know Members are keen to cheer the team on, so I'll keep my contribution brief and focus on three main points.

Firstly, I would like to repeat the calls that my colleague Tom Giffard made in opening the debate. Wales can host major sporting events, from the 1999 Rugby World Cup to the more recent Champions League final in 2017. So, it was with sincere disappointment that the Welsh Government decided against pursuing a bid to host the Commonwealth Games. With Birmingham hosting the event next year in 2022, I am sure that many Welsh fans will make the short journey across the border to see some of the world's best athletes. The legacy the city will gain is massive, and the knock-on effect to the local area and community is considerable. Minister, ambition is critical, and a Wales-wide Commonwealth Games would open our country to the world. Much of the infrastructure is already in place—the 50m pool here in Cardiff, the velodrome in Newport. Who wouldn't welcome some of the events in their own corners of Wales? Sailing in the Menai straits, mountain biking in the Brecon Beacons, the triathlon in the sea and on the roads of Pembrokeshire, and of course, the beach volleyball on Pendine sands. What better advertisement of our great sporting nation?

You may also remember, Minister, that a few weeks ago I used a question to the First Minister to highlight the importance of the Ironman competition to Tenby and south Pembrokeshire. This event, which I know has received support from the local authority—of which I'm still a member—and the Welsh Government, is recognised as one of the jewels of the Welsh sporting crown. However, the Welsh Government's determination to maintain the 2m social distancing rule for this event will hit it hard. Ironman Wales is held exclusively outdoors, and it seems odd that, as people may sit around a table inside a pub, an elite athletic event hangs in the balance due to the 2m rule. Can I urge you, please, Minister, to look into this issue, and look at relaxing the 2m rule, to ensure that this event can happen again and be successful once more this September?

And finally, but most importantly, following the distressing scenes over the weekend of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen collapsing and receiving life-saving treatment on the football pitch, I wanted to highlight the importance of ensuring sports grounds have access to defibrillators. I tabled a statement of opinion earlier this week calling for continued work to ensure that this life-saving equipment is located at every sports ground in Wales. I'm thankful to those Members who have signed it, and I'm pleased that it has gathered such cross-party support. I hope that there is the momentum, the political will, there to make this a reality. I thank Delyth Jewell for her kind words on this earlier. I'd also commend Suzy Davies for her work on ensuring CPR will be taught on the new curriculum.

And not to get into your bad books, Llywydd, but absolutely finally from me, c'mon Cymru.