New research by the National Assembly for Wales has called for a new major events strategy to be implemented to ensure the country benefits from major sporting tournaments.

The communities and culture committee study - Making the Most of Major Sporting Events - has made a series of recommendations to the Welsh Assembly Government to provide long-term "legacies". A national calendar of major events covering a 10-to-15-year period; a central source of guidance for organisers and a review of accessibility at potential major event locations are among the recommendations.

Major sporting events that seek Welsh Assembly Government financial support should include a post-event strategy, while events should also have to boost participation and tourism, according to the committee. Evidence submitted by Ryder Cup Wales revealed how the 2010 event - to be held in Newport - is set to boost participation, while Glamorgan County Cricket Club said it engaged with 65,000 young people across the country after hosting an Ashes Test match last summer.

In the report's foreword, committee chair Sandy Mewies said: "The evidence we heard suggests that major sporting events do have the potential to realise major benefits for hosting countries and regions. But we also heard clear concerns that these benefits don't happen automatically. "For example, a major sporting event may lead to a short-term surge in public participation around a particular sport, but this will only be sustained if carefully targeted work has previously gone on to enable that interest to be maintained after the major event."

Image: Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium hosted its first Ashes Test match last summer