The Vision outlines Sport Wales' priorities as well as the big shifts necessary in order to deliver increased participation and improved performance.

The move comes ahead of the 2011 Welsh Assembly Election on May 5 which will decide the seats in the National Assembly and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The outcome will have a huge bearing on sport in Wales and its funding and Sport Wales chair Laura McAllister believes that is why the start of 2011 is a crucial time to launch their Vision.

McAllister told insidethegames: "Across the public sector we face some significant challenges in Wales in the coming years and sport is no different.

"In order to ensure that we continue to deliver for communities in Wales we have developed this Vision to provide focus on what we need to do.

"The sports sector has responsibility for delivering some important parts of the Welsh Assembly Government's wider sport and physical activity agenda and it is only through working together that we will solve some of the challenges ahead.

"We want to see everyone feel the benefits from sport and we realise that families are important in helping us to achieve this.

"This is why we are asking them to promise to commit to making 2011 the year we see a step change in participation and performance in Welsh sport.

"We all know that if you don't take regular exercise, it can lead to a range of health problems as well as a more general poor sense of wellbeing, so we want every child and young person to be able to access at least five hours of sport every week.

"We need our decision makers to champion sport not only in and around schools but making the links to community provision as well, so that five hours a week is easily accessible for all children and young people.



"Our star athletes, such as Ryan Giggs, Gareth Bale (pictured) and our Commonwealth Games heroes are also crucial in inspiring people in Wales to take up the five hours of weekly sport."

Sport Wales has consulted on the Vision with its key partners – local authorities, governing bodies of sport and schools among others – and believes the time is right to refresh the approach to sport in Wales in order to continue to grow participation and improve performance.

McAllister added: "With the focus on school sport over the last ten years we have seen a general increase in children and young people's participation in sport.

"In 2000, for example, 72 per cent of children (7-11 years old) participated in a club environment - in 2009 this has risen to 80 per cent.

"As a sector, we are ready to make an unprecedented shift in the way we deliver sport in Wales in order that we get every child hooked on sport for life and to put Wales at the top of the world's sporting leader board."

The five hours a week appeal is being backed by a range of organisations.

Matt Newman from Welsh Athletics said: "The publication of the Sport Wales Vision represents the start of a new exciting era for Welsh sport.

"It's a chance for all organisations involved in delivering sport to unite behind a clear set of objectives and to start to shift our traditional thinking."

Neil Ward, chief executive of the Welsh Football Trust, added: "The Vision is clear, articulate and strikes the right balance between aspiration and practicality.

"It helps provide a focus for what the sector will deliver."

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