Government announce new sport investment strategy as Premier League provide more money

Tracey Crouch has announced a new plan. Credit: PA

Sports minister Tracey Crouch has announced a new government strategy on sport, which will see public investment in community initiatives.

The move will see Sport England change their remit from investing in sport for those over the age of 14 to helping children from as young as five through to pensioners get more active.

Investment will be targeted at wide range of projects which will help young people gain skills to get into work, tackle social inclusion and improve physical and mental health.

At the elite end of sport, government is supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes beyond Rio 2016 through to Tokyo 2020 with increased exchequer funding.

"Sport has an incredible power to do social good and that is what our new strategy is all about. We will invest in sport and physical activity that shows how it can have a positive impact on people's lives, how it brings communities together while ensuring it continues to make a significant contribution to the economy too.

"We want to give everyone the best possible experience of sport from the earliest age which is why Sport England will now support children from five years old. We also want to maintain Britain's reputation as one of the leading nations in the world for putting on major sporting events while making sure we are the best in the world on good governance too."

The government have also agreed a deal with the Premier League which will see a larger percentage of TV rights revenue being given to help grassroots football across the country.

Former paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has been appointed to lead an independent working group to do detailed work in this area so that everyone can participate safely in sport.