Sport is Under-Used According to House of Lords Committee

A report published today, asthma April 5, from the UK House of Lords Committee, says that the potential of sport is under-exploited at both EU and national level, despite its ability to deliver on core policy objectives in health, education, employment and social spheres.

The findings come at the end of an inquiry into Grassroots Sport undertaken by the Lords EU Sub-Committee on Social Policies and Consumer Protection. 

Involved in the inquiry were issues of how the EU can maximise the potential of sport in its own policy making and delivery, and how it can help Member States do the same. 

EU legislation can impact upon sport in a number of areas including intellectual property and single market legislation – the report looks at how these should be applied to sport to ensure the sustainability of grassroots sport, particularly its revenue streams from the broadcasting of professional sport.

Committee chair, Baroness Young stated: “Sport should not be regarded as a peripheral policy area.  We think there is much more value to be gained if sport is viewed as a powerful and effective tool in the delivery of objectives across the policy spectrum. 

“The other benefit to mainstreaming sport is a result of the fact that sport is vulnerable to unintended consequences of legislation in other areas.”