From ‘sport for good’ to ‘sport for sport’s sake’ – not a good move for sports development in England?

This paper reviews the remarkably rapid switch in 2008, still under new Labour, from ‘sport for good’ policies (stressing external benefits to society) to ‘sport for sport’s sake’ (stressing intrinsic benefits to sport). It then catalogues a series of issues which the author feels make it unlikely, indeed almost impossible under the budget cuts planned by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, that the targets set for participation which include making sport as popular in Britain as in Finland by 2020 will be achieved. It is also concluded that inequalities in health and sport/physical activity will grow again.