Good morning and thanks for the invitation to talk to you right now in my position as Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society.

It is a particular privilege to be the Minister accountable for sport, notably at such an thrilling time for the sector.

2022 was full of unbelievable sporting occasions which are nonetheless recent within the minds of the British public.

Who might neglect the record-breaking Women’s Euros and that magical summer season day at Wembley when England have been topped champions, inspiring tens of millions with their iconic victory.

Despite the challenges of organising worldwide sporting occasions in the course of the pandemic, we delivered on the worldwide stage,

by the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, alongside different main sporting tournaments

I used to be additionally fortunate sufficient to attend plenty of matches in the course of the ground-breaking Rugby League World Cup which came about in cities and cities throughout England.

The first Rugby League match to combine the boys’s, girls’s and wheelchair tournaments with nice success.

And I used to be lucky to attend the thrilling World Gymnastics Championships final autumn which was hosted within the nice metropolis of Liverpool.

I strongly imagine within the energy of main sporting occasions.

They enrich the lives of individuals all throughout the nation.

They carry folks collectively.

They drive financial development.

Enhance international Britain,

and assist guarantee an enduring social affect and legacy

by the world-class grassroots services that they depart behind for folks of all backgrounds to take pleasure in.

That is why the Government stays dedicated to bringing the most important and greatest sporting occasions on this planet to this nation.

I’m massively enthusiastic about what’s to return within the months and years forward for internet hosting main occasions within the UK.

For instance, an unprecedented mixed UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow and throughout Scotland later this 12 months,

a girls’s Rugby World Cup in 2025,

and, after all, the prospect of a mixed UK & Ireland bid for the UEFA EURO 2028 Championships.

I wish to take this chance to acknowledge and thank each individual within the room right now for the laborious work, grit and willpower that you’ve got proven since this occasion was final convened in individual in 2019.

I understand how tough the intervening interval has been for the game occasions sector and your resilience has been outstanding.

Your laborious work in 2022 was rewarded with an exceptional assortment of occasions that introduced nice pleasure to the British public, and I can not wait to work with you on what comes subsequent.

I’m now happy to introduce Simon Morton, Deputy CEO and Director of Major Events at UK Sport.

Thank you once more, and I hope you all have a really fulfilling and productive day.