New chairs for Sport England and UK Sport appointed

The former chief executive of the Royal Yachting Association, Rod Carr CBE, and London Marathon chief executive Nick Bitel have been appointed as chairs of UK Sport and Sport England respectively.

The announcement was made by sports minister Hugh Robertson.

Carr and Bitel will be tasked to help deliver a lasting legacy from London 2012 and use their commercial and sports administration experience to ensure maximum return and results from the public investment in sport.

Carr's main focus will be to keep up the momentum from Team GB and Paralympics GB's performances in London last summer.

UK Sport's ambition is for Team GB and Paralympics GB to win more medals at Rio in 2016 than in London.

The organisation is investing £500m of Exchequer and Lottery funding in the run-up to Rio, to boost elite sports performance and secure more major sports events for the UK.

Bitel will be tasked with helping Sport England deliver its community sports legacy plans and strengthen grassroots sport across the country.

Sports participation is at an all-time high following London 2012, and Sport England aims to build on this even further, increasing the number of people playing sport and continuing to improve facilities.

Sport England is investing more than £1bn of Lottery and Exchequer funding over five years to boost grassroots sport and encourage people to develop a sporting habit for life.

Hugh Robertson said: "Rod Carr has a wealth of experience in elite sport, and Nick Bitel has run the most successful mass participation sports event in this country for almost twenty years.

"Both are experienced sports administrators and join UK Sport and Sport England at a crucial time to build on the success of London 2012 and deliver a lasting legacy.”