£100m boost for grass-roots sport

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today announced a Government cash injection of £100million into community sport and promised to use London's Olympic bid to improve grass-roots facilities.

Grass-roots sport is becoming a controversial issue within the 2012 campaign and bid leader Barbara Cassani faced a demonstration from children about inadequate facilities in London when she took over the job last month.

However, Jowell said the money would be used for multi-sport community halls across the country. In England, the grant totals £77.5m and Lottery distributor Sport England will add another £31m.

"This is a direct expression of our determination to use the Olympics to boost community sport," Jowell said. "The Olympics, all too often, motivates the elite while the rest of us settle down on the couch with a beer and takeaway pizza."