Brexit will hurt the chances of Britain's young people to live, work and travel across the EU. We must march for a 'People's Vote' on the deal, says Olympic skier Peter Speight.

I am incredibly lucky to have had the chance to represent my country at the 2018 Winter Olympics. As a sportsperson I know the value of sport to people’s lives – and I’m concerned about the threat that Brexit presents to opportunities for our young people in the future.

My first experience of skiing was at the Sheffield Ski Village dry slope, where I used to spend hours riding and just having fun with my friends. Without the resources to invest in sports, facilities like this might not exist in the future. 

Even the government’s own analysis shows that Brexit will cause a big hit to our economy. But I am worried about what this means for the people behind the numbers.

When the economy is struggling, and there is less tax revenue to be spent on public services, one of the first things to be cut is investment in sports, creative and cultural sectors. As well as this, we also benefit from European funding into these sectors.

Leaving the European Union – without a deal that benefits our economy and safeguards these relationships – puts future opportunities for young people at risk and is not what anybody voted for in the referendum.  

This isn’t just a question of money but for our values as a society. I think it’s fantastic that we all have the right to live, travel, work and study freely across the EU. These are positive things for the people of our country. 

Without this right, it would have been much harder for myself to travel to European countries for tournaments and training. I also firmly believe that investment in sports and initiatives such as youth centres has massive benefits for individuals and society as a whole. I would hate to see opportunities for a whole generation of young people put at risk due to a bad Brexit deal.

The Brexit that was sold to our country during the referendum promised that leaving the European Union would create a brighter future for the UK. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that this simply isn’t true. And the potentially dramatic negative effects were not presented during the debate.

Threats to sports and creatives opportunities for young people mean the people who are going to have to live with Brexit are not going to benefit from it. 

That’s why the government has to be held to account in the type of Brexit it is delivering – and we should be given the opportunity change course if it is not the beneficial deal we have been promised.

With new polling showing almost two-to-one support a ‘People’s Vote’ on the terms of Brexit, momentum is building. I support a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal – I’ll be marching for a People’s Vote in London this Saturday, June 23^rd.

Peter Speight is a British freestyle skier. He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

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