If governments gave team talks....
Imagine Fabio Capello's boys trotting out at the World Cup with the Government's logo on their sleeves.
It's difficult to imagine, I grant you: no politician would want to be associated with England's performance against Germany yesterday.
Things are different in Wales, where the Welsh Assembly Government logo has adorned the sleeves of the Welsh rugby league team at public expense.
The team wore the shirts for their most recent competition, last year's European Cup. Sleeve sponsorship was part of a package that cost the taxpayer a total of Β£18,500.
The amount is small compared to the millions Manchester United, say, can demand to put logos on shirts, but the Welsh Conservatives say it's "inappropriate" to spend taxpayers' money in this way.
The party's leader in the Welsh Assembly, Nick Bourne, said: "This latest revelation suggests the Welsh Assembly Government is more than happy to blur the lines between sport and politics - and use taxpayers' money to achieve it.
"Given that the Assembly Government is made up of two parties - Labour and Plaid Cymru - the use of public money for political purposes in this way is totally inappropriate."
WAG dispute that: "We do not directly sponsor the Welsh Rugby League team. The "Wales Cymru" and Welsh Assembly Government logo displayed on the sleeve of the Welsh Team's playing shirt for the 2009 European Championships was one of a number of advertising opportunities agreed as part of our sponsorship of that event held in Wales.
"A sponsorship package of Β£18,500 was agreed with the RFL for the event, involving three games in Neath, Pontypridd and Bridgend all shown live on Sky Sports.
"The sponsorship of this event was agreed on the principles set-out in our draft Major Events Strategy for the benefits it would bring to the local economy and in meeting other One Wales objectives." [One Wales is the Labour/Plaid Cymru coalition agreement]
No news from the commentary box on whether the Welsh team found themselves explaining having to explain "One Wales objectives" as the inspiration behind their jersey design.
Hello. I'm David Cornock and I'm parliamentary correspondent for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales. This is the blog for the latest news and gossip from the Westminster village - with a Welsh accent.
Comments
or to comment.