But in Friday morning's sport debate he also faced criticism from Tories and some of his own backbenchers for what they saw as down-grading sport in schools.

Opening a debate on sport, Mr Smith told the Commons: "The government is committed to the re-emergence of Britain as a leading sporting nation."

He said the government's sport policy was based on two pillars: sport for all and international excellence. He stressed that one would support the other.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Chris Smith

Bids to host top events

Mr Smith announced that the government would help draw up a strategy to "bring to Britain the best of world events,", a process he said had already been started with the cricket and rugby union world cups which are due to take place here in 1999.

As England's footballers prepare for the imminent World Cup, he said the government was fully committed to England's bid to host the prestigious tournament in 2006:

"This is an excellent bid, backed by the Lottery Sports Fund and built on the firmest foundations of Euro '96 and some of the best and safest football stadia in the world."

Chris Smith: "A comprehensive strategy..."

Ministers also want to see the Olympic Games hosted by Britain "at the earliest possible opportunity".

Support for Lottery cash

Mr Smith complimented the Lottery Sports Fund for its contribution to backing sport in Britain. He said the fund had now provided over £800 million to some 4,000 sports projects throughout the UK in an effort to drive up standards.

"With the Lottery Sports Fund world class performance programme, we have the opportunity to help our most talented sportsmen and women compete successfully across a wide range of sports at international level," he said.

On the question of the list of sport events protected for terrestrial transmission, Mr Smith said that he hoped to announce the outcome of the review in the next few weeks.

He also said that he was determined to see an end to tobacco advertising and sponsorship because he did not want to see young people enticed into smoking.

The secretary of state expressed the government's concern to increase the levels of activity "in certain groups that traditionally participate less in sport. There is a need to change the real or perceived barriers."

Richard Springer MP, Tory spokesman

"Keep sport in the core curriculum"

Mr Smith's point that "sport can be a useful tool in helping us tackle the problems of social exclusion," was picked up later in the debate when MPs said they were dismayed at the lack of participation of children in sport - and the lack of resources set aside for school sports.

Richard Spring, for the Tories, supported the government's aim to improve numeracy and literacy in schools: "But we think it was a mistake to remove the core curriculum status of PE. It sends out the wrong signal to teachers, parents and pupils alike and it invites people to conclude that sport is peripheral."

Mr Smith defended the government's actions, saying: "There is no question of primary schools opting out of teaching PE. It will remain a national curriculum subject and will continue to be taught in all schools." But this did not satisfy MPs.

Archie Norman MP

British children "less fit"

Tory Archie Norman said that it was all very well the government having a catchy strapline "Sport for all", but he said: "Children are taking less exercise than at any time in last 20 years. They spend less time spent on sport in this country than in any other country in the EU. Less than 2% of children spend two hours or more on sport or physical exercise per week."

"We didn't hear a word _ not a single practical measure from the secretary of state on the provision of facilities to schools," he said.

The government has removed physical education from its position as a core subject in the national curriculum. But despite Mr Smith's assurance that there was "no way" schools would undermine the teaching of PE, there was much criticism from MPs.

Norman: "Sport is in crisis..."

Speaking against this background Mr Norman, who is also the chairman of the supermarket chain Asda, went on to say: "Those of us who have experience of business would far rather recruit great sportsmen than we would look, in many cases, for great scholars."

He said: "We have got a crisis in sport in this country - we are facing long-term decline ... The time has come to address the problem fundamentally.

"The problem won't be addressed unless resources are put into it. The problem won't be addressed unless there is a real commitment, an explicit commitment to sport in the core curriculum."

World Cup pipe-dream

In a debate that ranged across all aspects of sporting life in Britain, Mr Smith congratulated the successes of the England's batsmen on the first day of the First Test against South Africa. He also congratulated Arsenal and Chelsea for their football victories last season - and passed a footballing test in the process. .

With a summer full of sport, his speech was peppered with congratulations to those who had achieved high honours, and best wishes to those still to compete.