Major question marks have been raised over a recently-published Welsh Government strategy concerning the legacy benefits to Wales of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The strategy includes countless, embarrassing grammatical errors – such as leaving a capital letter off ‘welsh’, missing out words and spelling words incorrectly.
A Welsh language version of the strategy is not yet available and Welsh Conservatives have learned that full translation has not yet taken place.
Shadow Minister for Sport Mohammad Asghar AM said: “The number of errors, typos and mistakes in this strategy is embarrassing; and gives the impression it has been rushed.
“None of the pictures or graphics we have come to associate with Welsh Government strategies are included; and a Welsh language version isn’t even available”.
The very emergence of the strategy has caused significant confusion given the contradictory nature of recent Welsh Government statements.
A freedom of information request from September confirmed there was no Welsh Government strategy related to Olympic business performance or tourism benefits; and – despite being questioned – gave no indication as to any future strategy being published.
When questioned in August, First Minister Carwyn Jones failed to inform AMs that a strategy was due to be published – instead indicating that steps to seize benefits for Wales associated with the 2012 Games would come from the Welsh Government’s pre-existing Event Wales Strategy.
Yet, in a bizarre U-turn, the First Minister has now confirmed that draft strategic legacy action plans related to the Olympics were put before Cabinet in November 2006.
Mr Asghar added: “If this strategy has been worked on since 2006, I simply cannot understand why it is so full of errors and why it promises so little in the way of action; instead padding empty rhetoric into a handful of pages – with no substantial mention of important issues like raising public health.
“Also, if it was put before Cabinet in 2006, why have FOI requests and written questions painted a very different picture as to the future existence of any strategy. The lack of transparency is remarkable”.
The South Wales East AM has also raised concerns regarding clear differences between Welsh Government rhetoric and action.
He said: “The First Minister recently said he had held no meetings during the Fourth Assembly focussed on how Wales can benefit from hosting the very first event 2012 Olympics; yet this strategy highlights the importance of that landmark event”.
A copy of the strategy – in English only – was first made public last Tuesday; 13 days after the First Minister revealed the strategy existed and confirmed he would place a copy in the Assembly library.
