Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
I attended an Inter-Ministerial Group for Sport on 1 March hosted by the Scottish Government in Glasgow. The IMG brings together the four UK Sports Ministers to support co-ordination and the sharing of best practice between the devolved administrations and the UK Government.
This meeting was chaired by Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, Scottish Government. Also in attendance were Rt Hon Stuart Andrews MP, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, UK Government and Gordon Lyons, Minister for Communities, Northern Ireland Executive. The meeting was supported by the chairs of four sports councils, including Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as Chair of Sport Wales, and UK Sport. Our discussions included safeguarding and sport integrity, inclusion and diversity in sport leadership, and preparations for this year’s Olympics and Paralympics in Paris.
The trip also included a visit to Haghill School, which is part a of a community Sport Hub in the East End of Glasgow, one of Scotland’s most deprived communities. The visit showcased how Sport Scotland is working with targeted local authorities, including Glasgow City Council, to take a place-based approach and bringing the community and partners together for the benefit of sport and delivering wider outcomes through sport.
Following the meeting, I was invited by the Scottish Government to attend part of the World Athletics Indoor Championships at the Emirates Arena.