News from Vale of Clwyd Labour

“Wales is ‘poor relation’ in UK for hosting sporting events” – Welsh AM

A Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly has called on both Welsh and UK Governments to ensure Wales stops being “a poor relation” in the UK, by helping the country receive its fair share of playing host for top level international sporting events in the future.

Wrexham AM, Lesley Griffiths’ comments came during Questions to Welsh Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, just weeks after it was announced that the Welsh and Scottish Football Associations would not submit a joint-bid to co-host the 2016 European Football Championships.

In her Question to the Minister in the National Assembly, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“In March, many people were disappointed to learn that the joint bid between Wales and Scotland was not being pursued for the Euro 2016 football championships.

“Although the Ryder Cup is an important sporting tournament, when it comes to hosting truly global sporting events, Wales is becoming a bit of a poor relation to Scotland and England, considering what they are looking forward to over the next few years.

“Will the Welsh Government do all that it can to ensure that Wales has its fair share of hosting international events in future, including persuading the UK Government of that claim?”

In his reply, Alun Ffred Jones pledged to take a strategic look at ways of improving Wales’ position:

“Certainly. That is why we have set up a major events unit, which has the specific goal of ensuring that we are in a prime position to attract and host major events. We had some success with the International Rugby Board junior world championships in 2008, and we will be hosting the 2009 UK School Games.

“You mentioned the European football championships – whatever the term for those is now – and the specific issue there is of facilities and stadia, which are very expensive. In order to fulfil the requirements, they must seat a certain number of people, and, unfortunately, even the two new stadia that we have in Wales do not meet the criteria set down by the European authorities.

“Therefore, there is an issue with regard to ensuring that the facilities exist, but the Government cannot fund such a facility on its own. However, we should take a strategic long-term view of this to see whether we can build up our facilities so that we are in a position to bid for at least some of these major events in future.”

Commenting following her Question, Lesley Griffiths said:

“A joint bid to host Euro 2016 was the ‘last chance saloon’ for Wales to host a major sporting event in the coming years. Meanwhile, the rest of the UK is moving ahead with ambitious and expensive taxpayer funded plans, while Wales is being left behind.

“In 2012, London will host the Olympics Games. In 2014, Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games. England has bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and only this week England launched its bid to host the World Cup in 2018. The question has to be asked – as part of the UK – when will Wales get its fair share of investment and support?”

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