Letter: We should be proud of City of Sport title

It was good to see the Star feature celebrating the tag of Sheffield being the Uk’s first National City of Sport and the fact that our City has hosted over 1000 major events. From a personal point of view I am delighted that the legacy of the World Student Games and the investment in our Sporting infrastructure still continues 28 years later and fulfilling all the hopes of the Labour Group which in spite of massive opposition from political opponents stuck by the policy and saw it through.

Just to reflect on the aims and objectives of our City’s investment back in 1991. Faced with an unemployment level of 15% and acres of dereliction in the Don Valley one part of the regeneration strategy was to make Sheffield a World Centre for Sport Leisure and Tourism with the following aims;

a) To lift the image and profile of the City, nationally and internationally by hosting events

b) To attract Tourists to Sheffield - one of the fastest growing industries with investment in more hotels

c) To provide Sheffield People with excellent facilities creating new sporting opportunities

d) To improve the environment removing two centuries of Industrial pollution

e) To attract inward investment

f) To make Sheffield a decision centre by attracting Sporting Governing Bodies and company headquarters

g) To restore the Civic Pride of its citizens

It seems to me that every one of those aims and objectives have been more than fulfilled and the investment continues to grow. We can also add to them, making our City more attractive to Students who flock to both our universities. The Don Valley has been turned from an old industrial slum to a modern attractive welcoming area with more and more investment coming in.

Our City should be proud of this achievement which has been described as one the finest examples of Local Government Urban Regeneration.

Picture of me receiving the City of Sport Award on behalf of Sheffield from Derek Casey, Chief Executive of Sport England in 1995.