The Earl will take over after the annual meeting next July of the CCPR, an umbrella organisation for 280 national governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation in the UK

 

Becoming President will add to the Earl's involvement in sport and recreation in the UK and will complement his patronage of a number of CCPR's member organisations.

 

Brigid Simmonds, the chair of the CCPR, said that the Earl is a natural successor to The Duke of Edinburgh, who has held the post since 1951.

 

She said: "The Earl of Wessex has shown himself to be a real supporter of sport and young people. 

 

"He has interests in the work of many of CCPR's members already, being Royal patron of the British Paralympic Association, Snowsport GB and the Tennis and Rackets Association, as well as being Patron of BadmintonScotland and vice patron of the Commonwealth Games Federation. 

 

"He is a sports enthusiast through and through.

 

"There is a real synergy between His Royal Highness's personal commitment and the work of CCPR and we are really pleased that he has agreed to become our new President.

 

"He has expressed a wish to engage with the work of our members, particularly at the grassroots, and in his new role he can do just that.

 

"We wanted someone who understands sport, enjoys sport and is committed to the work of our members. 

 

"The Earl of Wessex will, I am sure, be able to help us move forward and represent CCPR's cause in the run-up to London 2012."