The council was formed in 1935 as an organisation for the governing bodies of team and individual sports and non-competitive recreations. The idea was to bring the leaders together to consider common interests. The CCPR became the representative negotiating body with local and central governments. Until the Sports Council took over the process in 1972, the investment of public funds in sport and recreation was done through the Department for Education and Science. Much of the pressure for better facilities was generated through the CCPR and the National Playing Fields Association.

The administration of sport and recreation developed around the major clubs or a federation of clubs. Local clubs were formed by people who wished to take part in a particular sport, but they needed one body to provide the rules and regulations. With the advent of international sport, international federations of national governing bodies were formed to provide common rules.

Many clubs introduced junior sections and coaching schemes. Many schemes were then expanded by national governing bodies and eventually started to attract government funds.

The development of non-competitive activities - hill-walking, mountaineering, sailing, dancing, and sub-aqua diving also involved setting up administrative bodies. These encouraged the younger generations to learn the techniques and to take part safely. Some sports and recreations carry greater injury risks than others, but with all of them administered by participants, the qualifications for participation are set by people with the necessary personal experience.

This is very important because virtually all sports and recreations carry a certain level of risk, but risks are relative to the knowledge and competence of the participant. You cannot just get on to a bobsleigh and go down the Cresta Run on a whim. The risk of disaster would be much too great. It needs training, experience, self-control and aptitude before such an activity can be enjoyed with the minimum of risk. Overcoming the risks by preparation is a real satisfaction.

If the consideration of safety becomes paramount, any worthwhile activity becomes impossible. There has to be a balance between risk and safety. Experienced participants know which are the most common risks and they will know the best ways to guard against them. It would never be possible to guarantee any worthwhile activity as completely accident-free.

Safe participation depends on thorough training and preparation and the leadership of trainers. There are huge opportunities for adventurous young people to become leaders, trainers and coaches. The British Sports Trust - set up by the CCPR - initiated and runs the very successful Community Sports Leaders Award scheme. This gives young people the chance to improve their own performance and to train younger people.

This is particularly important in a country where the majority grow up in an urban environment. The pressure on schools to deliver good exam results and the growing costs of providing for adventurous activities has significantly reduced participation. This means local clubs and national governing bodies have a greater responsibility for introducing young people to these activities. Given modest financial support, I am confident that they will continue to make a very significant contribution to the physical development of young people and to give them the chance for a lifelong involvement in rewarding activities.

It would be highly damaging to the development of young people if they were denied the chance to train for, and participate in, challenging physical activities. Teachers and clubs should continue to take pupils on adventurous activities, because not to teach children about risk and responsibility, is a failure to provide a rounded education. Tragic events will inevitably happen because no matter how careful we are, risk can never be completely eradicated. This is why we must be responsible about risk and do our best to ensure that children are equipped to deal with it.