6. Debate on the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee Report — 'Levelling the playing field: A report on participation in sport and physical activity in disadvantaged areas'

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:09 pm on 30 November 2022.

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Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 5:09, 30 November 2022

Tom Giffard marked the timeliness of this debate and the need to support grass roots. Jack Sargeant had picked up on this in an intervention about the fact that engagement with sport—yes, we'd focused on participation—but audience, community engagement, going to see games, are so important as well. Tom, it was Baroness Grey-Thompson who'd made the point to us as a committee, and it was such a powerful point, that sport shouldn't just be about being good at sport, but people should be able to enjoy sport, not excel. That's a really powerful point, and I'm glad that you raised that.

Alun, I agree with you entirely about how enjoyable this inquiry was, because in spite of the really grim picture that we were seeing in so many ways, the passion that so many of the people that we spoke to feel for sport was absolutely inspiring. I agree as well with the point that you were making that when Wales on the world stage does well, it means so much, and that's something that, obviously, underpins so much of what we've been looking at as a committee.