The return of the Miniature for Sport

Those who campaigned against football ID cards in the late 1980s will be depressed at the news that one of the schemes main architects, Colin Moynihan has been appointed Chairman of the British Olympic Association.

As Mrs Thatcher's Sport Minister, Moynihan was a figure of hate for a generation of football supporters. The chances of the Olympics being an inclusive event for all Londoners are weakened by hsi appointment.

From todays Telegraph:

Moynihan's role 'above party politics'

By Tom Knight

(Filed: 06/10/2005)

There was victory for one Tory politician in a leadership election yesterday when Lord Moynihan won the race to become the chairman of the British Olympic Association.

The former sports minister beat David Hemery by 28 votes to 15 at the first meeting of the national Olympic Committee since London was awarded the 2012 Games.

The result was no surprise. Moynihan's experience in Whitehall and Westminster meant he was always the favourite and Hemery, the 1968 Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion, will continue in his role as a vice-chairman of the BOA.

Moynihan, 50, said he had given up active politics, including his chairmanship of the independent review group that last month published Raising the Bar, a document that called for sweeping changes to the way sport is run in this country. But his politician's instincts shone through as he accepted what had become one of the most powerful jobs in British sport.

It is a job that carries an honorarium, but Moynihan said he would not take it. Having criticised the wealthy American businesswoman Barbara Cassani for accepting her massive salary as the first chairman of the London 2012 bid committee, Moynihan said it was a matter of principle that he should not follow suit.

He said: "I made the point that if you are fortunate to be financially independent, it was important that the money went back into sport. I have already started discussions with the BOA on where my honorarium could best be spent."

Ever the politician, within minutes of being made chairman Moynihan noted that it was 1,000 days before he faced re-election in 2008 and reiterated that Britain's aim in 2012 was to field its biggest team of more than 700 athletes and improve from 10th in the medals table in Athens to fourth.

He made it clear that while the BOA hoped to enter every competition at the Games, teams wishing to compete in basketball, handball and volleyball would have to earn their places.

Moynihan said: "We need to make sure the level of performance reaches the qualifying standard for 2012 and we have to start preparing now.

"The opportunity is there to field a full team in 2012, to go from the 270 athletes we had in Athens to more than 700 in London."

Amid rumours of plots by the Government to prevent him becoming the second Tory peer after Lord Coe to lead Britain's Olympic campaign, Moynihan said his new role was "above party politics".

He added: "I'm not at all at loggerheads with any Government ministers. I intend to set out in the spirit of co-operation. Staging the Olympic Games presents us with a huge agenda, and the Government, industry, commerce and sport need to be united."

The early signs were encouraging, with Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Olympics Minister, welcoming his appointment.