Shadow Olympic Secretary Calls For 10-Year Legacy Plan

Shadow Olympics minister Tessa Jowell has called for cross-party consensus to deliver a 10-year plan to build on the public enthusiasm for sport after London 2012.

Jowell said the same consensus that was created "in the national interest" to deliver the Games must now be applied to ensuring an Olympic legacy that saw every child having the opportunity to play sport.

She called for the reintroduction of the teaching of PE in primary schools by properly trained PE teachers, dedicated funding to promote partnerships between schools, and "a very clear agreement" that at least two hours a week be used to expose children to a wide range of sports, taught by people who were competent and well trained.

Jowell warned that unless money in school budgets was specifically earmarked for sport, "it doesn't get used for sport".

In a swipe at Michael Gove, who withdrew the target of two hours a week of compulsory PE in schools early in the coalition government, Jowell said such decisions made by the education secretary meant the legacy could not be delivered without a 10-year commitment.

(H)