Exchequer funding for sport has almost doubled since London’s Olympic win in Singapore. In the three years up to the IOC vote in 2005 the amount of Exchequer funding from DCMS was £313 million, in the three years following it was £580 million.
Sport England is investing £480 million of Exchequer and lottery funds through 46 national governing bodies over the next four years to deliver this target and increase participation throughout the country. A proportion of the £480 million will be invested into capital facilities throughout the country.
The Government have provided £140 million for Free Swimming. This has helped deliver 10.4 million free swims for under 16s and over 60s around the country between April and September 2009. There are two new swimming pools in the West Midlands that have received funding from the Free Swimming Capital Modernisation Fund which will be completed in the next few months. Between June and September 2009 there have been 1,414,817 free swims in the West Midlands.
In the West Midlands the percentage of adults participating in sport at least three times a week increased from 14.5 per cent. in 2005-06 to 14.9 per cent. in 2007-08. In Staffordshire the percentage of adults participating in sport at least three times a week increased from 15.8 per cent. to 17.4 per cent. (The national average was 15.5 per cent. in 2005-06 and 16.5 per cent. in 2007-08).
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games is actively seeking a games-time football venue in the Midlands.