Examination of Witnesses (Questions 300-308)
RT HON
RICHARD CABORN
MP AND MR
PAUL OLDFIELD
7 DECEMBER 2005
Q300 Mr Davidson: It has been suggested
that if Scotland do not get their own team, such is their antipathy
towards the UK team, they would much rather be part of a Europe
team. What do you think of the ludicrous suggestion of an EU team?
Mr Caborn: You did talk about
a European team and then you said an EU team. I am not quite sure
what you mean.
Q301 Mr Davidson: I think the suggestion
was an EU team.
Mr Caborn: That would be a non-starter.
Q302 Mr MacNeil: What would that
do to the medals table?
Mr Caborn: You may well go up,
I would have thought, but I suppose if you continue to go on a
regionalisation of that, which it would be, it would not be the
Olympics that we were talking about, nation competing against
nation, would it?
Q303 Mr MacNeil: Exactly.
Mr Caborn: It is okay for a debate
in the Oxford Debating Society but it is a non-starter. It is
totally against the charter. It is nation competing against nation,
not regions competing against regions of the world.
Q304 Mr MacNeil: Scotland of course
is a nation.
Mr Caborn: It is a nation and
there are many that come together to compete in the Olympics.
Q305 Mr Walker: For the record, it
is a damned fine nation, by the way. There has to be an advantage
for a Scotland bid, a Glasgow bid, for the Commonwealth Games
by London hosting the Olympics. What level of support do you see
LOCOG and these various organisations being able to give a Scotland
bid for the Commonwealth Games to take place two years afterwards,
because that really would be of benefit to Scotland and to this
country, I would have thought.
Mr Caborn: We had the Sports Cabinet
meeting in Cardiff a few weeks ago. Seb Coe was there giving an
update on the Olympics. We have made ourselves available and all
the organisation we have put into winning the Olympics is a skill
set that is unique. It is totally different to running or delivering
the Games. We stand ready to help in any of the areas they want.
The Commonwealth were very important to us in winning the Olympic
bid. We were the only Commonwealth country that competed for the
Olympics. That is why Nelson Mandela was very supportive of the
London bid and that is why our very good friend, Sam Ramsamy,
the IOC member of South Africa, was very helpful as indeed were
our colleagues were in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India.
Raja Singh in India was of absolutely first class assistance to
us. The Commonwealth helped us immensely in winning the Olympic
bid and a lot of those connections we have made know the facilities
we have here will only stand Scotland in good stead.
Q306 Mr Walker: Could it weaken Scotland's
position? "Come on, you guys. You have just had the Olympics.
We supported you. It is now South Africa's turn" or one of
the other Commonwealth countries' turns?
Mr Caborn: I do not see it like
that in terms of the Commonwealth. It will be a fair competition
and the judgment that the Commonwealth Committee takes. From what
I have seen of the Scottish bid to date, it is a good bid.
Q307 Mr Davidson: One of the issues
we have been exploring with a variety of people is the gains to
Scotland from tourism. In terms of your own responsibilities,
would you agree that one of the things that would help Scotland
gain more from tourism would be if, today, you were able to agree
that Ibrox should get the regional casino that is being discussed
by the Department?
Mr Caborn: I have come to answer
questions on the Olympics and not my responsibility for gambling.
The government wanted eight large, eight small and eight regional
casinos. The Conservative Party decided that they would not allow
the Bill unless we had one regional, eight large and eight small,
but our position is still eight. We will only go back if there
is a demand for that across the political spectrum and indeed
local authorities as well.
Mr Davidson: In the new spirit of consensus,
there may very well be an agreement that you might want to accept.
In those circumstances I am sure you would accept that having
one in Ibrox in time for the Olympics would be helpful.
Q308 Chairman: Could I thank the
Minister and Mr Oldfield for their attendance this afternoon?
Before I declare the meeting closed, do you wish to say anything
in conclusion?
Mr Caborn: I will write to you
on the points my officials have taken down, on the statistics
and that. We will keep your Committee informed. It is very important
that we keep this dialogue open, particularly over the next year
or 18 months because a lot will be set in train that could be
important both for the running of the Olympics but also to make
sure that every part of the United Kingdom gets advantage out
of the Olympics. If we all work in partnership I am sure that
we can realise that potential.
Chairman: Your evidence certainly will
be very helpful when we compile the report. Thank you very much.
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