WE have just received a press release where Harlow MP Robert Halfon has welcomed a £300 million financial package for sports organisations.

We noted that there was not any mention of athletics.

As there are a number of athletics organisations in Harlow.

Harlow has Harlow Athletics Club, Harlow Running Club, Harlow Wheelchair Racers, Harlow parkrun, ParkrunandBeyond and Harlow Tri Club to name just a few.

So we asked Mr Halfon what he and his government doing for these organisations?

Mr Halfon said: “Unfortunately, this funding is only for:

• rugby union, horse racing, women’s football and the lower tiers of the National League football
• rugby league, motorsport, tennis, netball, basketball, ice hockey, badminton and greyhound racing 

“I have written to the Sports Minister about support for other sports/clubs, including athletics.

I have also tabled a parliamentary question specifically about support for ParkRun as obviously that doesn’t fall under the usual “sports clubs” category.

“We will let your readers know as soon as we receive responses for both”.