The ceremony launched a new association between the Millennium Stadium and Welsh Rugby Union with National Playing Fields Association, which aims to highlight the need to protect playing fields across Wales.
The Millennium Stadium is protected like a national treasure as the stage for the nation’s leading sports stars to perform. Running out onto the grass at the Stadium is the pinnacle of any sportsperson’s career – but the years of practice which lead to that moment, start on a local playing field. The National Playing Fields Association is a registered charity whose objective is to ensure that local playing fields are protected just as strongly as the Stadium, to provide opportunities for play, sport and recreation.
The Millennium Stadium and Welsh Rugby Union are forming an association with the NPFA to bridge the gap between the stage for top level sport and local community facilities and to highlight the need to protect playing fields.
Paul Sergeant of the Stadium said, “I was delighted to have been asked to join the NPFA Cymru back in May and in the last four months I have realised how important it is to protect local playing fields for our children’s health and welfare.
“Each and every one of us started our involvement in sport on a field somewhere and in this day and age, the health and fitness of our children and the need to let children be children, is more important than ever. It is imperative to encourage children to play and especially vital to nurture our young talent ahead of the Olympic Games 2012”.
Colin Jackson said ‘I’m delighted that the, Millennium Stadium, the Welsh Rugby Union and the NPFA are working together. It’s an alliance we can all be proud of – and one that should help to get more protection for all the local fields which are under threat.”
Lewis Evans, NPFA Cymru Chairman said ‘We need to protect the playing fields which provide the practice grounds of our future stars. We are really pleased that Colin Jackson the Millennium Stadium and the Welsh Rugby Union are highlighting our cause through this association’.
