PM bowled over by pledge support
22 November 2006
Tony Blair hosted a reception today to mark a commitment he made to become the patron of a London sports club.
He took part in the Pledgebank project, which aims to get people more involved in community work.
To kick-off the sporting theme, and with the start of the first Ashes Test match just hours away, the PM played "kwik-cricket" with local youngsters in Number 10.
Rain stopped play in the street, so they set up inside the building instead.
He then invited representatives from Westway Sports Centre - the club he will become patron of - as well as a selection of new patrons, their clubs, players and leaders from sporting bodies into the State Rooms.
More than 100 public figures backed the PM's promise on the Pledgebank website and will become patrons of sports clubs themselves.
Among those involved were sports presenter Clare Balding, London mayor Ken Livingstone, rugby legend Jason Leonard and comedy-actor Angus Deayton.
The PM chose the Westway centre because of its sporting excellence, especially the tennis facilities, and as an impressive example of urban regeneration.
Each patron will support a London club in their own way, but their involvement will ensure the club is able to reach its full potential in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.
Comments from the patrons
We spoke to some of the patrons during the Downing Street reception:
Tony Blair
"Over the course of the next few years I hope to help Westway in a variety of ways from raising their profile to attending events and presenting prizes. I am really looking forward to it."
Jason Leonard, rugby international
"This is a fantastic opportunity for people of status within sport to actually to help other people who are perhaps not so lucky."
Ken Livingstone, mayor of London
"Some of the kids are my club are doing sports sessions on Saturday mornings all on the back of the 2012 London Olymics."
Angus Deayton, TV star
"The benefits cut both way. If you want another Wimbledon championship you have to get the kids out of the shopping malls and into sports club."
Pledgebank was set up My Society.
