The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today welcomed the appointment of Peter Fitzboydon as Chief Executive Officer of ‘London Sport’ – a new organisation to lead the delivery of grassroots sport in London.
London Sport forms a single new strategic body for sport and physical activity in London bringing together five existing bodies. Its remit is to get more people of all ages to participate in sport by working with governing bodies, sports clubs, employers and others.
The move is designed to ensure a continuing legacy from London’s Olympic and Paralympic Games by providing a more coordinated and efficient approach to grassroots sports provision. It will also seek to capitalise on opportunities for grassroots sport arising from major sports events being held in London in the coming years.
London Sport is backed by Sport England, the Mayor of London and London Councils and will be chaired by Kate Hoey MP, the Mayor’s Commissioner for Sport. It will have a budget of £5million to deliver grassroots sports programmes across London.
Peter Fitzboydon has a wealth of experience of working in sport. He has spent almost ten years at the Football Foundation, most recently as Chief Operating Officer. The Football Foundation is a charity funded by the Premier League, The FA, and Government via Sport England to modernise football facilities across England. He is due to take up the position in late September.
Announcing the appointment, Kate Hoey MP said: “I am delighted that Peter Fitzboydon is to become the Chief Executive of London Sport. Peter has a wealth of experience in sport and specifically in the sports landscape across the capital. London Sport is being set up to ensure all Londoners benefit from more opportunities to get involved in grassroots sport. Having hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games, London has a set of new world class venues available for community use and we are hosting a series of major sports events. Our existing sports legacy programmes are helping to ensure that more people than ever are taking part in sport in London. We want London Sport under Peter’s leadership to build on these achievements and get even more Londoners active.”
Sport England Chief Executive Jennie Price, said: “The appointment of Peter Fitzboydon as Chief Executive of London Sport is a very positive step. Sport England is a strong supporter of London Sport and its plans to strengthen grassroots sport in the capital. While we’ve seen an increase in the number of people playing sport since we won the bid to host the Games in 2005, we know there is still much to do and I am confident that, under Peter’s direction, London Sport will rise to that challenge.”
Peter Fitzboydon, said: “I feel honoured to be taking on the role of London Sport's Chief Executive at such an exciting time for the organisation. Sport has been a lifelong passion, and I have witnessed at first hand its potential to create opportunities and change people's lives. I am looking forward to leading the team to help increase participation in sport and physical activity across the capital.”
Notes to editors
• London Sport is an amalgamation of five County Sport Partnerships in London (Proactive Central, Proactive North, Proactive South, Proactive East and Proactive West). It also brings together the work of the Mayor of London, Sport England, London Councils which represents all 32 London boroughs and the City of London and others.
• County Sports Partnerships are funded by Sport England to deliver a range of sports programmes via networks of local organisations committed to increase participation in sport and physical activity. Partners include National Governing Bodies of Sport and their clubs, school sport partnerships, local authorities, sport and leisure facilities, primary care trusts and other sport and non-sporting organisations.
• London Sport is an independent company, Limited by Guarantee. The Board of London Sport is: Kate Hoey MP (Chair), Mayor of London’s Commissioner for Sport; Richard Barker (Vice-Chair)., Director of Sport, Leisure & Wellbeing, Westminster City Council; Derek Brewer, Chief Executive Secretary, Marylebone Cricket Club; Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority; Hugh Lenon, Chair of Phoenix Equity Partners, the Independent UK Private Equity Investment Firm; Sadie Mason, Chief Executive, Active Sussex; Cllr Joyce Ryan, London Borough of Redbridge; David Sparkes, Chief Executive, British Swimming; Andy Sutch, Chairman of the London Federation of Sport and Recreation; Executive Director of Business in Sport and Leisure; Cllr Doug Taylor, Council Leader, London Borough of Enfield; Kim Wright, Corporate Director, Health and Community Services, Hackney Council.