HC Deb 09 February 1999 vol 325 cc159-61W
Mr. Spring

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list(a) the people who have been made sporting ambassadors since May 1997, (b) the sporting ambassadors still in post, (c) how many official visits they have made and (d) where they made official visits. [69100]

Mr. Banks

[holding answer 8 February 1999]: The Sporting Ambassadors Scheme was successfully piloted in four English Sports Council (ESC) regions in 1997. It involved 37 schools, of which 23 were primary; 11 were secondary; two were special and one was a community college.

The pilot phase involved a total of 18 Ambassadors representing 15 different sports. The Ambassadors were as follows:

Sport
Allison Curbishley Athletics
Arnie Sidebottom Cricket
Chris Leonard Rowing
Danielle Sanderson Athletics
Dave Rice Athletics
Eve Miller Athletics
Jill Atkins Hockey
Jo Durie Tennis
Joe Lydon Rugby League
Kenneth Churchill Paralympic Athlete
Kevan Baker Paralympic Athlete
Liz Talbot Athletics
Mick Hill Athletics
Mike McFarlane Athletics
Paula Blank Athletics
Samantha Adamson Athletics
Steve Sylvester Cricket
Sue Rolph Swimming

Around 2,110 pupils attended school assemblies, awards ceremonies or question and answer sessions involving a Sporting Ambassador. A total of 1,567 pupils also enjoyed first hand contact with Ambassadors through coaching or participation. Feedback from the pilot stage suggested that most benefit was gained when the Sporting Ambassadors lived locally, could be seen out training and who could identify with the school and pupils.

The Sporting Ambassadors Scheme is now being rolled out on a national basis and the English Sports Council aims to set up 10 visits in each of the 10 Sports Council regions. These visits are currently being set up and will take place during the spring and summer school terms.

A list of the sportsmen and women who have agreed to become Sporting Ambassadors as at 5 February is as follows. In addition, Rob Andrew MBE, Tanni Grey MBE and Denise Lewis MBE are the lead Ambassadors and will work with the ESC to promote the scheme and forge links with sport.

Sport
Kendra Slawinski OBE Netball
Katy Roberts Hockey
Mark Palmer Paralympics
Isabel Newstead Paralympics
Danielle Sanderson Athletics
Joanne Goode Athletics
Paula Blank Athletics
Julian Halls Hockey
Fleur Horner Rounders
Sarah Price Swimming
Karen Pickering MBE Swimming
Donna Kellogg Badminton
Eleanor Harvey Rounders
Paula Radcliffe Athletics
Jo Mould Hockey
Emma Shepherd Rounders
Linzi William Rounders
Karen Frape Rounders
Ian Harrison Paralympics
Joanne Davies Badminton
Colin North Cricket
James Brindle Cricket
Thomas Evans Paralympics
Paul Ratcliffe Canoeing
Tim Brabants Canoeing
Rachel Crosbee Canoeing
Ian Raspin Canoeing
Heather Corrie Canoeing
Tim Reddish Paralympics
Clare Ryan Rounders
Julian Golding Athletics
Billy Waugh Hockey
Nick Thompson Hockey
Kelly Holmes MBE Athletics
Debbie Bampton MBE Football
Richard Nerurkar Athletics
Julia Mann Badminton
Anna Hemmings Canoeing
Tricia Davey Canoeing
Joanne Zinzan Netball
Paula Woods Swimming
Jenny Hunter Swimming
Kathy Osher Swimming
Donna Fraser Athletics
Lorna Boothe Athletics
James Clark Canoeing
Stephen Harris Canoeing
Rebecca Train Canoeing
Ivan Lawler Canoeing
Sport
Karen Brown Hockey
Tanya Woodward Badminton
Deborah Keeley Ice Skating
Ken Churchill Paralympics
Emma Haworth Rounders
Nicola Simms Rounders
Martyn Smith Gymnastics
Dominic Flood Fencing
Mark Flores Gymnastics
Scott Holmes Triathlete
Graeme Storm Golf
Gayle Adamson Swimming
John Quinn Badminton
Stephen Miller Paralympics
Kirsty Wade Athletics
Hazel Robson Athletics
Graham Ratcliffe Mountaineering
Alan Hinkes Mountaineering
Allyn Condon Athletics
Robert Crutchley Hockey
Vicki Horner Swimming
Colin Haughton Badminton
Steve Shaw Paralympics
Angela Jones Rounders
Helen Don-Duncan Swimming
Sara Sankey Badminton
Rob Anderson Paralympics
Jeanette Chippington Paralympics
Steven Sylvester Cricket
Paul Morris Gymnastics
John Shaw Hockey
Steve Redgrave CBE Rowing
Anthony Downs Paralympics
Sion Brinn Swimming
Neil Willey Swimming
Paul Palmer Swimming
Mark Stevens Swimming
Jo Jackson Paralympics
Rebecca Pantaney Badminton
Allison Curbishley Athletics
Lucy Newcombe Hockey
David Hempleman-Adams Mountaineer
Katherine Merry Athletics
Sarah Blanks Hockey
Janet Mcmorran Paralympics
Rachel Dunn Rounders
Nigel Capewell Paralympics
Alan Ash Paralympics
Lorraine Cole Badminton
Adam Ruckwood Swimming
David Byas Cricket
Daniel Cook Rugby Union
Arnie Sidebottom Cricket
Joe Lydon Rugby League
Meghan Fenoughty Rounders
Suzzana Thorpe Rounders
Graham Nash Hockey
Dean Thomas Paralympics
Kevan Baker Paralympics
Ian Wilson Swimming
Linda Hindmarsh Swimming
Clare Taylor Cricket, Football, Hockey

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