Hunt handed Olympics brief in new government 13/05/2010 |
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Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt has been appointed to the new combined role of Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport in the coalition government.
Hunt, who was previously the Tory shadow secretary for culture, will be in charge of delivering the 2012 London Olympic Games. Former shadow sports spokesman Hugh Robertson is expected to be named sports minister today (May 13).
Lord Coe, the London organising committee chairman, said: “I am delighted with Jeremy’s appointment and look forward to working with him to deliver a great Games in two years’ time.”
Hunt has described the 2012 Games a “very precious jewel” and told the BBC: “The Olympics is our No 1 priority and we need to grasp the opportunity.”
Coe said he was optimistic that the changing British political landscape would have no impact on the preparations for the Games. “None of them are unfamiliar characters to us,” he added on Wednesday (May 12) as he announced the Olympics’ 30th sponsor, Eurostar.
But Coe would not be drawn on whether there would be a future role for former Olympics minister Tessa Jowell.
“With regards to Tessa Jowell, it is far too early to get into me seeing a role for her – that is not within my gift. I’m not involved in any political appointment,” Coe said.
Asked if Jowell might have a role in the organising committee, he replied: “We have not even thought about that yet and we will have to look at the political landscape and decide what is best for the organising committee.
“Tessa was a great ambassador and lobbied fantastically for the Games. The key for us is to have as much continuity as possible and I’m confident we can achieve that.”
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