Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sports Bodies’ Bids to Host Major Sporting Events

Thursday 18 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government is committed to supporting bids from sports bodies to host major sporting events in the UK.
  • There is ongoing work to explore the potential of a possible English bid to host the 2031 Ryder cup.
  • The Minister acknowledges the importance of addressing cultures of racism and prejudice in sports to protect the UK's reputation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Craig Tracey Con
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question arises from the Department's efforts to support bids from sports organisations to host significant international sporting events.

Question

What recent steps has her Department taken to help support bids from sports bodies to host major sporting events? Over the past 15 years, iconic events have been hosted in the UK, and there is an exciting programme of events for 2022 including the Commonwealth games, women's UEFA European championships, and the rugby league world cup.

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

The Government are fully committed to working with event organisers to bid for and host major sporting events. Over the past 15 years, some of the world's most iconic events have taken place in the UK. That has cemented our position as a global home for these events, and we have an exciting programme of events in 2022, including the Commonwealth games, the women's UEFA European championships, and something close to your heart, Mr Speaker, the rugby league world cup.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for recent steps taken by the Department to support bids from sports bodies, but the answer provided general statements about past events and future plans without specifying concrete actions or commitments.

How: General Statements, Future Plans

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Craig Tracey Con
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

There was a third unsuccessful bid for the Ryder cup to return to England since 2002. The questioner seeks confirmation on whether it is still an ambition to continue with this 2031 Ryder cup bid.

Question

I thank the Minister for that response. It was great to see that the Department was successful in two of the bids in the spending review, but, as the Minister is aware, there was a third unsuccessful bid, which was to bring the Ryder cup back to England for the first time since 2002. Will the Minister confirm that it is still very much his ambition to continue with this 2031 Ryder cup bid? If it is, would he like to visit the Belfry in my constituency, which would be a perfect location for the event, so that he can see for himself the fantastic facilities that are on offer there?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

I am really grateful to my hon. Friend and pay tribute to him for all the work that he does with the all-party group for golf. As he mentioned, there is ongoing work to explore the potential of a possible English bid to host the 2031 Ryder cup for the first time in England since 2002. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and UK Sport are in close contact with the key partners and venues, and our collective teams continue to work together to conclude this feasibility work and decide on the next steps. It is about the work as well as the finances here, and we will continue to work on this matter in every way that we can. I would be more than happy to visit his constituency and the Belfry and perhaps get round quite a few holes, including the last one.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister acknowledges ongoing work but does not provide specific commitments or timelines regarding the 2031 Ryder cup bid.

How: Ongoing Work, Future Plans

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Alison McGovern Lab Birkenhead
Culture, Media & Sport Standards & Ethics
Context

There is a situation in cricket involving cultures of racism and prejudice. The question arises from the need to address these issues, as highlighted by Azeem Rafiq's testimony.

Question

Mr Speaker, you and I both support major sporting events coming to the UK, but I want to return briefly to the situation in cricket. The lesson for all sports is that those who fail to deal with cultures of racism and prejudice will ruin our country's reputation, not build it. I know, Mr Speaker, that you and I, and all Members, Ministers and shadow Ministers in this House were heartbroken listening to Azeem Rafiq yesterday, but, as the Minister has said, it is deeds not words that will make a difference, and that goes for the Government as well. Will the Minister place in the Commons Library any and all correspondence that he has had with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and can he tell the House what discussions he has had with it about its powers and resources and whether they are enough to deal with what we know, and have known for a long time, are chronic problems in sport?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

The hon. Lady and I are at one in terms of the intent and what she said there about the abhorrence of what we have heard in cricket this week and, indeed, over a period of time. She is also absolutely right about issues in broader sport. I will happily place whatever documents are appropriate in the Library—I cannot promise to do so with every single document or discussion, because, as the hon. Lady knows, there are sometimes confidentiality and frank discussion concerns that inhibit our ability to put out every single piece of correspondence, but I will happily talk further with the hon. Lady, one to one, about this issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister acknowledged the issues related to racism in sport but did not commit to placing all documents in the Commons Library and avoided specifics on EHRC's powers and resources.

How: Confidentiality Concerns, Future Discussions

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email