Britain has the capability, drive and enthusiasm to put on the very biggest events in sport

Paul Dancey on 29/05/2012

The success of preparations for London 2012 has helped international sports federations view Britain as a country that can deliver on hosting world class events, Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson told the Sport Accord conference in Quebec City last week.

Robertson joined London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe for the keynote address at the conference to speak about preparations for London 2012 and the legacy that the Games will leave for sport at both the grass-roots and elite levels.

Hugh Robertson said: "We are ready to deliver a great Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. But the top class sport will not stop there. Over the next few years we are to host some fantastic competitions on home soil that will keep the passion for sport burning, which London 2012 will ignite."

Following on from London 2012, the United Kingdom is to host the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, 2015 Rugby Union World Cup, 2015 European Hockey Championships, 2015 IPC Swimming European Championships, 2017 World Athletics Championships and 2019 Cricket World Cup.

The UK will also host the 2013 Men’s World Squash Championships in Manchester, the 2013 World Triathlon Championship Series Final in London and the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow.

Robertson added: "The success of the London 2012 project so far has certainly helped show international sports governing bodies that Britain has the capability, drive and enthusiasm to put on the very biggest events in sport."

UK Sport, the nation’s high performance sports agency, who will invest £5 million per year of National Lottery funding into hosting major events post-2012, is currently working on bids for the 2015 FEI European Eventing Championship, which would be held at Blair Castle, Perthshire, as well as the 2015 European Judo Championships and the European Swimming Championships in 2016.

Simon Morton, Director of Major Events and International Relations at UK Sport, said: "Thanks to the investment that has been made in the UK’s new sporting infrastructure and expertise through preparing to host both the London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 Games, we are looking to attract some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events here over the coming years.

"UK Sport’s ambition is to use the catalyst of hosting the Games to cement our position as one of the world’s leading host nations; we have already secured numerous World Championships, including the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships in Glasgow and 2017 World Athletics Championships in London, which will enable the British public to continue to be inspired by seeing our top athletes compete at the highest level, on home soil, in a range of different sports."

Last week Robertson recently hosted the Canadian launch of the government’s GREAT campaign at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto. The promotional push aims to attract new investment to the UK and boost tourism by showcasing the best of Britain in cultural, heritage, business and sporting terms.

Robertson said: "Canada and the UK have always had strong cultural and commercial ties and London 2012 is the perfect opportunity to develop our close relationship. I invite Canadians to come to Britain and experience for themselves the creativity, innovation and sport that we have to offer."

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