Lords debate "Sport and exercise science and medicine: building on the Olympic legacy to improve the nation's health"

Members of the House of Lords, including Lord Krebs, Lord Moynihan and Earl Howe, will tomorrow, Wednesday 11 December, debate the report Sport and exercise science and medicine: building on the Olympic legacy to improve the nation's health.

The report, originally published in July 2012 by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, found that there was a lack of awareness and appropriate training for health professionals of the benefits of exercise based treatments.

It also identified a “lack of joined-up thinking in Government on the Olympic health legacy” where Sports Minister Hugh Robertson had told the Committee that he was interested only in increasing participation in sport, not using sport to improve the nation's health.

The Committee was pleased that the Government, in responding to the report, agreed with the issue of health professional training, but were disappointed that the Government failed to acknowledge any shortcomings in using sport to improve health.

Lord Krebs, who tabled the motion, will open the debate. 

Other members scheduled to speak include Lord Moynihan, former chair of the British Olympic Association, Lord Addington, the Vice President of UK Sports Association, and the Earl of Selborne, the Chairman of Foundation for Science and Technology.

Earl Howe will respond on behalf of the Government.