NEW LONDON OLYMPIC 2012 GAMES THREAT TO UK LOTTERY FUNDING.

NEW LONDON OLYMPIC 2012 GAMES THREAT TO UK LOTTERY FUNDING.


GOOD CAUSES MUST NOT FACE FURTHER LOTTERY CUTS.

SNP Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson, Pete Wishart MP, has written to
the Olympics Minister seeking assurances that no further funds will be
diverted from good causes in Scotland to prop up the London Olympics.

Mr Wishart’s calls follow reports earlier this week revealing that over a
quarter of the games contingency fund has been spent – more than three
years before the Games are due to open.

Commenting, Mr Wishart said;

“It is clearly alarming that at this halfway stage the UK Government is
already spending contingency funds.

“With private contributions falling as Labour’s recession bites there must
be no temptation by the UK Government to carry out further raids on
Scotland’s lottery funding.

”Tessa Jowell said the UK Government would never have embarked on the
Olympic bid had they know the economic crisis was around the corner, and
now we know why.

“While taxpayers’ money is being poured into the athletes’ village and
£150 million of lottery funding already lost to Scotland communities and
charities across the rest of the country are paying the price.

“With charities facing their own funding downturn the UK Government must
now give cast-iron assurances that not one penny more will be taken from
lottery funding to pay for the Olympic games and work with the Scottish
Government to see that £150 million put back into a Scotland wide legacy
for the Commonwealth Games."