Olympic Games: China

Hugh Robertson
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people will attend all or part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games from (a) UK Sport and (b) Sport England; and at what cost.

Andy Burnham
UK Sport inform me that a total of eight people from UK Sport are attending all or part of the Beijing Olympic Games. The cost of this at current exchange rates is around £27,000, excluding living expenses. UK Sport state that these representatives are going to ensure the UK's lead agency for performance sport is properly represented, but also to deliver key objectives and attend formal meetings around their designated anti-doping, major events and international influence roles.

Sport England inform me that Sport England will be represented by their chief executive and the director of property, and state that both have significant roles to play in terms of Sport England's increasingly strong role around talent and Olympic venues ahead of London 2012. The chief executive and director of property are attending the Beijing Olympic Games as part of the British Olympic Association's guest programme for one week in August, at a cost of £9,550 per person. Sport England state this is the price set by the BOA.