Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he has taken steps to ensure that trade missions associate with and run alongside UK sporting events.

The Department for International Trade, alongside other Government Departments, works to take full advantage of world class sporting events hosted in the UK. DIT run inward missions to showcase UK expertise and promote trade to visiting delegations. DIT ran an International Observer Programme during the 2017 World Athletics Championships which included delegations from several countries. In 2015 DIT hosted a Japanese delegation during the Rugby World Cup. DIT continue to plan similar missions to run alongside future sporting events, such as the Cricket World Cup later this year. DIT recognises the value of sporting events hosted overseas to further the UK’s trading relationships and has delivered activities such as British Houses and business delegations at major sporting events for this purpose. DIT are looking forward to making the most of opportunities offered around Rugby World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.