Celebrating the Olympics in Cambridge

Our local Councils are currently planning how to celebrate the Olympics in 2012. Cambridge has a proud sporting history, and it is likely that the Olympic Torch relay will pass through the City.

But from what I have heard so far, I am disappointed that the Councils are not planning to do more to use the Olympics to do more to promote more participation in mainstream sport, and will be taking this up with the Council.

Sport has the potential to address many of the policy areas public bodies spend a fortune of taxpayers money tackling the symptoms of - health problems, obesity, anti-social behaviour, lack of community engagement etc. It is also the area where most voluntary work is carried out by individuals. And the Council is failing these volunteers. They tried to stop students using the public open spaces for training, and I know, for example, the rowing community in Cambridge feels very let down by the City Council - they are seriously under-represented on the Cam Conservators, and so have little formal say over river management - which is currently holding back development of rowing in the City. The Lib Dems seem to see rowing as elitist and irrelevant to Cambridge, despite the efforts being made by clubs such as St Radegund, which I am involved in, to introduce more people to the sport.

In this context, this week I met with the prospective organisers who wish to restart the Cambridge City Half Marathon. Every similar city to Cambridge seems to have a half marathon - the previous successful Cambridge event stopped around 1995 - I understand due to lack of support from public bodies. They have setup a Facebook group, and I am meeting with Council officials and lobbying Councillors to support its return. Whether this support is forthcoming will be a key test to me of whether the Lib Dems running Cambridge have any intention of supporting my vision of Cambridge as a place renowned for its fit, healthy and sporty residents.

Ashes Cricket Comes to Cambridge

In case you were wondering about the barriers being erected on Parkers Piece at the moment...

Cambridge City Council is hosting the nPower Cricket in the Park event on Parker's Piece this weekend

The English Cricket Board and nPower are providing a free cricket carnival and big screen on Parkers Piece so that people can enjoy the excitement of watching Sky Sports' coverage of the third Ashes test between England and Australia live from Egbaston whilst enjoying cricket activities and a fun day out.

The Council’s Sports Development Service and Cambridgeshire Cricket Board will be working alongside the event to provide information and opportunities promoting cricket to people of all ages and abilities.

The event takes place on both Saturday and Sunday and doors are open from 10.00am to 8.30pm. Further information can be found at the ECB’s Cricket in the Park website: www.ecb.co.uk/cricketinthepark