Nadia Comăneci keeps balance during choppy journeySporting greats were part of Paris Olympic ceremonyCarl Lewis, as a nine-time Olympic champion and the IOC’s sportsman of
Brian Cookson says support for organised sport in the UK needs a radical rethink and a substantial boost
It was fascinating to read about the support available for grassroots sport in France and to compare it with the situation in this country (State craft: how De Gaulle shaped France’s inclusive Olympic sport infrastructure, 24 July ). Here, elite level Olympic sport is well funded but, in many sports, club level sport is dying on its feet.
As a nation we have commodified sport and made it something that is too expensive to organise and thus too expensive for many people to participate in. We have to change that before it’s too late. Current initiatives that focus on active lifestyles are right and proper, but support for organised sport needs a radical rethink and a substantial boost. I hope that Lisa Nandy, the secretary of state for culture, media and sport, will address this issue as a matter of urgency.
Brian Cookson
Chair, Active Lancashire
Updates as open-air parade of 160 boats sail along SeineDay-by-day guide | Bookmark: medal table, resultsSign up for our Paris 2024 briefing | And email
Qin Haiyang fumes at 5-7 tests per swimmer over 10 daysBreaststroker is main rival to Peaty and Stubblety-CookA world record holding Chinese swimmer has accused
‘Massive’ coordinated arson attacks on TGV brings severe disruption to France’s busiest rail linesParis 2024 Olympics – live updatesFrance’s high-speed rail network has been hit