Tickets for the SJA’s Sporting Question Time in London on February 22 are 
going fast, and they are sure to be boosted by the news that John Inverdale, one of the country’s leading sports broadcasters, will chair the debate between the sports spokesmen of the three leading political parties – Gerry Sutcliffe, Hugh Robertson and Don Foster.
The SJA is also delighted to announce that the CCPR – Central Council for Physical Recreation, the umbrella body for Britain’s sports federations – has come on board as an event partner and will be generously sponsoring the pre-discussion drinks reception.
It is a busy time of year for SJA member Inverdale, who tomorrow embarks on a two-month-long rugbyfest, fronting the BBC television coverage of the RBS Six Nations championship.
But Inverdale is making sure that he is available to act as the moderator between the three politicians and an audience of top sports journalists and sport administrators in a special debate on the future of sport in Britain.
“I’m keen to be involved in the Sporting Question Time,” said Inverdale, a regular presenter at the SJA’s annual sports awards and British Sports Journalism Awards. “In an election year, it promises to provide some fascinating debate.”
The SJA also welcomed the involvement of the CCPR in the occasion, in addition to the role of the Association’s two sponsors, Sky Bet and UK Sport. UK Sport this week publicised the event to all their stakeholders throughout British sport on their own website and e-newsletter.
“We are delighted to have the CCPR on board as event partners,” Steven Downes, the SJA Secretary said. “This event is clearly a good fit for our sponsors and the CCPR, and we must hope it signals an on-going working relationship between our members and the organisations.”
For more details on the event and to book your tickets – £10 for SJA members, £20 for non-members – and how to put forward a question for consideration, click here.
First posted Feb 5
OTHER UPCOMING SJA DATES
Mon Mar 8: 2009 SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, at The Brewery. Click here to book your tickets
March (date to be confirmed): SJA Olympic lunch, with Britain’s gymnastics world medallist as guest (details to be confirmed)
Apr 12:The SJA’s second “Sporting Question Time”, this time with London Mayor Boris Johnson at City Hall. This will be strictly for SJA members only
Thu Apr 15: SJA 2010 Annual Meeting, at offices of UK Sport
Mon Apr 19: SJA/LOCOG guided tour of Olympic Park (2pm – booking details to be announced)
All details are subject to change. First posted February 5
□ UK Sport is the longest standing lead sponsor of the Sports Journalists’ Association, with a partnership that goes back more than a decade. Sky Bet is the SJA’s newest partner, the sponsorship being announced in October 2008.
Both partners support the SJA’s two prestigious annual awards events, including the presentation of a special UK Sport Award for excellence at the SJA’s Annual Sports Awards and the sports betting writer of the year at the SJA’s British Sports Journalism Awards.
The SJA Annual Sports Awards are the longest established of their kind in the United Kingdom, having been first staged in 1949.
Click here for more recent articles on journalism, sport and sports journalism
SJA members can cast their votes for the best in sports broadcasting by clicking here