Chris Bryant MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, responding to reports that the IOC has awarded all TV and multiplatform broadcast rights in Europe to Discovery and Eurosport for 2018-2024 Olympic Games, said:

“The British people love the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it is vital that the full range of sports remain on free to air TV and don’t disappear behind a subscription.

“Nine out of ten of us watched the Olympics on the BBC but this development need not mean that the Games are lost to the BBC. As things stand they are protected as ‘listed’ events with an absolute guarantee that they will be on free to air channels so with the government’s support they could still show the games in 2022.    

“The Government needs to make it clear that it has no intention of dropping the Games from the protected events A list – and Eurosport should clarify its plans for UK coverage as a matter of urgency.”

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