From The Daily Telegraph Sports Letters pages.

"Sir - Sally Wainman is right when she says that Sport England have appointed a commercial director with a brief to secure partnership funding from the private sector for community sport (Letters, Nov 2). This does not signal, however, the end of public provision as we know it. In fact, making sure community sport remains affordable to all is one of our priorities.

Bringing the private sector on board to help us create better opportunities for people to take part in sport is something we need to do better. We make no apologies for looking beyond the public purse to take the benefits of sport to a wider audience.

We will continue to invest the public and Lottery money at our disposal wisely. The last month has seen a 50-metre pool open in Leeds and plans unveiled for one in Hillingdon, London - both benefiting from Sport England Lottery funding. Since 2004, there has been a net increase in the number of swimming pools in England.

Our ambition is to get two million doing more sport by 2012. It can only be delivered by a true partnership between public and private sectors. (no mention of the community, voluntary or not-for-profit sector?, Ed)

Derek Mapp

Chairman, Sport England "

(Via Daily Telegraph Letters to the Sports Editor - Telegraph: .)

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