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Sports: Older People

Asked by Gareth ThomasLabour (Co-op)Department for Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 4 February 2026UIN 108579

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she will have with broadcasters on commissioning programmes that encourage those aged over 60 to participate in sporting activity.

Answered by Ian Murray

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, including older people, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities to stay fit and healthy.

We understand sport helps encourage people to be active and support all grassroots activity to promote this message, and help people participate in sporting activity.

All national governing bodies and UK broadcasters are operationally and editorially independent of the Government. Consequently, we do not plan to have discussions with them regarding their commissioning plans in relation to encouraging those aged over 60 to participate in sporting activity.

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