Minister Andy gets to grips with his sports brief (From Daily Echo)
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Minister Andy gets to grips with his sports brief
8:28am Tuesday 24th February 2009 in Cabinet in Southampton
HANGING OUT: Andy Burnham tries some exercises with diver Blake Aldridge at The Quays in Southampton. Echo picture by Paul C
THE 2012 London Olympic Games will leave a “lasting legacy for the region” the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham told the Daily Echo.
The games will have a ‘huge impact’ on tourism and job creation in the south.
He said : “There are measurable economic benefits already in being the Olympic host,” adding that the Olympics gives Britain an economic boost which other countries haven’t got and the games present the “biggest opportunity for the tourism industry for a generation.”
Mr Burnham visited The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex. He praised the city’s initiative with its free swimming for children and pensioners. After meeting Olympic divers he also said government money would be forthcoming to invest in swimming pools and leisure centres for councils which participate in the free swimming scheme.
He said he was also interested in the idea of rolling out the free programme to other sports since the cost would be offset by savings to the NHS and social services.
