Cram awarded Sports role

Steve Cram in his days as 1500m world champion

Former 1500m world champion Steve Cram has been appointed chairman of the English Institute of Sport.

Cram will take up the role from 1 June and help with the strategic management of the £7.5m project.

Founded with the backing of Sport England and funded through the National Lottery, the Institute is responsible for delivering high class performances at all the major sporting events.

I am delighted to take up this position to ensure the Institute progresses in the right direction

Steve Cram

A network of training centres will eventually provide facilities for 4,000 athletes who will form the World Class programme.

"I am delighted to take up this position to ensure the Institute progresses in the right direction," Cram said.

"The key to running the Institute successfully will be to ensure users - particularly athletes and coaches - make a significant input to the management of the Institute network.

"They will be influential in the decision making process at national and strategic level and also in the operation of regional sites.

"Sport England has already consulted national governing bodies of sport before deciding where the regional centres should be and they have played a vital part in shaping the network.

"Some sports might not have a permanent training base at each or any of the network centres but all world class athletes, regardless of where they live and train, will be supported from their nearest site."