As Nation Prepares for Olympic and Paralympic Games, BGC Sponsors Sports Aid Parliamentary Reception

Leading sports charity SportsAid held a parliamentary reception for peers and MPs last week, sponsored by the Betting and Gaming Council.

The charity, which the BGC and its members have long supported, held the reception in the Churchill Room, with an open invite to returning and new MPs, plus peers.

Ahead of this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, guests heard from Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, a 16-time Paralympic Games Medallist, including 11 Gold Medals, and rowers Scott Durant MBE and Moe Sbihi MBE, both Gold Medallists at Rio 2016.

Around 40 MPs and peers attended the reception, including Secretary of State Jo Stevens MP and Labour Party Chair Ellie Reeves MP, as well as a number of ministers and newly elected MPs.

SportsAid provides crucial support to the next generation of Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and World Champions.

The BGC and its members have been long term backers of SportsAid, making them one of the beneficiaries of the BGC Britannia Stakes charity race at Royal Ascot, which has raised over £3m for a host of charities since 2019.

Meanwhile, Entain has funded SportsAid since 2019, donating almost £500,000, and bet365 donated £50,000 earlier this year at the 50th anniversary of the Lobby vs MPs football match, which the BGC sponsored to raise money for SportsAid.

Tim Lawler MBE, Chief Executive of SportsAid, said: “It was wonderful to be able to take a moment with new and returning MPs so soon after the Election and so close to the beginning of the Paris Olympiad, to shine a spotlight on SportsAid.

“The charity plays an integral role in recognising and supporting the next generation of the nation’s sporting talent and being able to reflect on that – through the experiences of three inspirational alumni – was fantastic.

“A huge thanks to everyone at BGC and its member organisations for their ongoing support of SportsAid. It is greatly valued, especially so at such an exciting time for British sport.”

Michael Dugher, CEO and Acting Chair of the BGC, said: “It was fantastic to sponsor SportsAid’s parliamentary reception, ahead of a wonderful summer of sport at Paris 2024.

“SportsAid makes the difference, not only providing crucial financial funding, but also offering the pastoral support young sportsmen and women need if they are to represent their country at the elite level.

“We have long supported SportsAid and it was terrific to continue that support by sponsoring the reception.

“My huge thanks also go to Lord Dave Watts who kindly hosted the evening, which was a terrific opportunity for SportsAid to meet new and returning MPs, who were delighted to learn more about their work, especially with an Olympic summer just days away.”

The celebration took place in the Churchill Room on Tuesday, July 9 and was hosted by Lord Dave Watts, former Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party.