Have just returned from an interesting day during which I acted as a workshop convenor for the Sports Council for Wales.

Raising Our Game – The Regional Approach was a one day conference directed at local authorities and Welsh sporting governing bodies examining the challenges of trying to increase participation in sport and leisure during a time of economic down-turn and looming budget cuts.

My own session entitled Advocacy - Why Bother? focused on the links between sport and politics and how the case for increased practical and financial support for leisure and sport is best presented to elected representatives. Although emphasis was on the role of AM’s, I also gave advice on how to lobby civil servants, MP’s MEP's and local councillors.

The most pleasing element of the workshops was the acceptance that sport and politics are interconnected and that sport is integral to promoting well-being, social cohesion, economic development and the feel-good factor.