My week ahead – 20 June 2010

This is the first of what will be regular previews of my week ahead, I hope they will shed some light on the day to day work of a Sport and Olympics Minister.

I’ll be using these updates to keep you informed of how I’m delivering on my key priorities: winning the 2018 World Cup bid, delivering a successful Olympics and securing a lasting sporting legacy.
I do feel very lucky to have this job at this time, when so much is happening in British sport and no there’s better example of that than Friday’s England game. Having been to the USA game in Rustenberg, I watched this one at home while the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt, supported the team and the 2018 bid on behalf of the Government.
This week starts with my first Parliamentary questions as Minister for Sport and the Olympics on Monday. I’m obviously more used to asking the questions than answering them, so this will be another one of those new experiences that come with being in Government.
Tuesday is Budget Day so more time in the Commons, but I’ll also be speaking to Wisden Cricketer Magazine which as a keen cricket fan is an interview I’m looking forward to. Later that day I’m meeting the Football Foundation.
On Wednesday I will mark another first by attending the Olympic Board, with our plans for an Olympic and Paralympic style school sport competition among the items on the agenda. I’ll also be having a number of internal meetings about the Olympic Legacy and of course later on I’ll be tuning in to watch the England v Slovenia game.
On Thursday I’ll be joining Charlie Dimmock on the Olympic Park to plant the first of 300,000 ‘wetland’ plants before going to Wimbledon to to meet the Lawn Tennis Association and see some tennis.
Look out for my next post, when hopefully I’ll be talking about who England are playing in the next round of the World Cup!