English: We all recognise the importance of children, young people and adults taking part in sport. Team sports participation promotes health and well-being, builds confidence, teaches discipline, to work as a team, and it helps to maintain mental health. This Government need to commit to ensuring children and adults of all sporting abilities and all parts of Wales, urban and rural, have easy access to all-year-round, all-weather sporting facilities close to where they live. For those who need clarification on what I'm talking about, as I mention 3G and 4G to some people and they think I'm talking about phone signal, it's fair enough; not everyone is a sport nut like me. I'm talking about artificial grass pitches, the different levels and the different thickness and quality for professional or community use. However, you don't need to be a sport nut to recognise the ever-increasing importance of such facilities, which, like with many things, have been highlighted by this pandemic. It's imperative, therefore, that we do all that we can to encourage and facilitate those who wish to get involved in sport. As soon as we hit the winter, many sporting opportunities have to stop due to the weather impacting our pitches and ability to train or play matches. When I was secretary of a local junior football club, the biggest barrier stopping children playing sport throughout the winter was the weather and its effect on the real grass pitches. The major issue has sparked a surge in football swapping from grass to third generation pitches that the whole community can enjoy without the worry of damaging the pitch. The stresses of training and matches having to be continually cancelled for many, many clubs throughout our winter months, particularly in rural areas where facilities are poor, is just not good enough in 2021. It's true that poor quality artificial pitches in the 1980s did create a stigma that's difficult to shake off, but synthetic pitches have now reached much higher standards than they did when they first became popular, which is great news for players and coaches and forces manufacturers to leave no stone unturned when delivering on quality. The growth in popularity of small-sided soccer means a huge proportion of young players will now develop their skills on synthetic pitches. As a result, many are used to the consistency that man-made services offer and many of our towns are benefiting from that, but not, unfortunately, many of our rural areas. Today, artificial grass pitches don't just replicate the playing conditions on natural turf; in some cases, it can exceed them. From the coaching perspective, as well as the consistency, these surfaces are favoured as they replicate the bounce and run of a natural surface. I commissioned research into the need and want for artificial grass pitches when I joined the Senedd last year, which was carried out by a Welsh veteran footballer who had the knowledge and access to all levels of football and sports that would benefit from having such closed pitches based in a club close to where they lived. The response was phenomenal and conclusive, from grass-roots junior sports clubs to Newport county manager, Michael Flynn. The need for all-weather training and playing facilities was apparent. Children and young people will be able to play all year round, ensuring continuity in their fitness levels, from mental health from playing sport and seeing their friends, to learning key skills, they'll be able to play sport in the winter months, as many families are unable to take their children the distance required to travel to facilities in local towns that clubs have to hire, or see their children not play sport. It will ensure normal grass football and rugby pitches aren't ruined from overplay when they're trying to play in the wet weather and mud. Adults, too, want to continue playing throughout the winter months. It's essential for our lower-league clubs that they continue to train and play and for all our leagues throughout Wales, because, of course, it mucks up fixtures and they're continually headaches for those sport clubs to try and re-do the fixtures. For professional sport, it would mean they are on an equal footing with the rest of the UK and world and give children the very best opportunities for us to develop future Welsh sporting stars. Professional clubs could train, play and train in all weather, all year round, to ensure fixtures can go ahead and that clubs can develop academies without having to worry about pitches. The installation of 3G pitches actually has the potential to create new sources of income and greater opportunities for people to get involved in sport at all levels. A wide range of sport can be played on these latest 3G pitches in addition to football, which means that community clubs can provide multi-sport facilities, creating essential hubs that would undoubtedly be fully booked all year round, from the evidence that I've collected, as the need is so great for these all-weather facilities. Like with any financial outlay, sports clubs, when considering artificial turf, will need to look at the payback period and the return on the investment. I know the Football Association of Wales, Hockey Wales, Welsh Rugby Union, working in conjunction with Sport Wales have established a nationally agreed vision and model for developing clubs and increasing participation through appropriately located and fit-for-purpose playing surfaces. I've had a conversation with those organisations who wholeheartedly agree there is an absolute need for Wales to invest in more 3G and 4G pitches for our community and professional use. The FAW has set up a target of 100 3G pitches in Wales by 2024. This is very welcome, but where? I would press the Government to ensure the roll-out - for there to be more pitches, and to go further for all parts of Wales. We need it to go further to ensure the whole of Wales benefits from the expansion of the artificial grass pitches, as they are overwhelmingly present in urban areas and south Wales at the moment. Presiding Officer, as you can tell, I believe passionately in the benefits of us investing in 3G and 4G all-weather facilities for community sport and our league clubs, and for communities to enjoy. There are so many benefits for our country; sport-wise, but also in the mental health benefits for people young and old. It would completely reform grass-roots rugby, football and other sports for all ages and all abilities. It would give our professionals equal opportunities to develop their game, ensuring that we don't lose future stars to England due to the facilities being so much better over the border. It's time Wales caught up. I was devastated to learn a couple of years ago when applying for a pitch myself that the funding had ceased for the roll-out of these 3G and 4G pitches. I don't want to make this party-political at all, in fact, and I welcome the Government's new commitment to roll out these pitches further. But I ask this Government and the next to invest heavily and invest fast in rolling out a programme of ensuring all-weather 3G and 4G pitches for as many parts of Wales as possible, which are easy to reach for all communities, 3G and 4G sports access for all across our country, with particular focus on rural areas, and a joined-up approach in supporting our lower leagues with those facilities, so we can support the creation at the same time of more academies and more opportunities for our young people to exceed in sport. I please ask you all for your support in this. Thanks.
Welsh: Rydym i gyd yn cydnabod pwysigrwydd cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon i blant, pobl ifanc ac oedolion. Mae cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon tîm yn hybu iechyd a lles, yn adeiladu hyder, yn meithrin disgyblaeth i weithio fel tîm, ac mae'n helpu i gynnal iechyd meddwl. Mae angen i'r Llywodraeth hon ymrwymo i sicrhau bod plant ac oedolion o bob gallu yn y byd chwaraeon a phob rhan o Gymru, boed drefol neu wledig, yn gallu gwneud defnydd hawdd o gyfleusterau chwaraeon drwy gydol y flwyddyn ac ym mhob tywydd yn agos at ble maent yn byw. I'r rhai sydd angen eglurhad ynglŷn â'r hyn rwy'n sôn amdano, pan fyddaf yn sôn wrth rai pobl am 3G a 4G maent yn meddwl fy mod i'n siarad am signal ffôn, ac mae hynny'n ddigon teg; nid yw pawb yn dwli ar chwaraeon fel fi. Rwy'n sôn am gaeau chwaraeon porfa artiffisial, y gwahanol lefelau a'r gwahanol drwch ac ansawdd at ddefnydd proffesiynol neu gymunedol. Fodd bynnag, nid oes raid eich bod yn dwli ar chwaraeon i gydnabod pwysigrwydd cynyddol cyfleusterau o'r fath, sydd, fel gyda llawer o bethau, wedi cael ei amlygu gan y pandemig hwn. Mae'n hanfodol, felly, ein bod yn gwneud popeth yn ein gallu i annog a hwyluso pethau i'r rhai sy'n dymuno cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon. Cyn gynted ag y daw'n aeaf, rhaid i lawer o gyfleoedd chwaraeon ddod i ben am fod y tywydd yn effeithio ar ein caeau chwaraeon a'n gallu i hyfforddi neu chwarae gemau. Pan oeddwn yn ysgrifennydd clwb pêl-droed iau lleol, y rhwystr mwyaf i atal plant rhag cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon drwy gydol y gaeaf oedd y tywydd a'i effaith ar y caeau chwaraeon porfa go iawn. Mae'r broblem fawr wedi sbarduno ymchwydd yn nifer y caeau pêl-droed porfa a gafodd eu troi'n gaeau chwaraeon trydedd genhedlaeth y gall y gymuned gyfan eu mwynhau heb boeni am ddifrodi'r cae. Nid yw'r straen i lawer iawn o glybiau o orfod canslo hyfforddiant a gemau'n barhaus drwy gydol misoedd y gaeaf, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd gwledig lle mae cyfleusterau'n wael, yn ddigon da yn 2021. Mae'n wir fod caeau chwaraeon artiffisial o ansawdd gwael yn y 1980au wedi creu stigma sy'n anodd ei ddileu, ond mae caeau chwaraeon synthetig wedi cyrraedd safon lawer uwch bellach na'r hyn a welid pan ddaethant yn boblogaidd am y tro cyntaf, ac mae hynny'n newyddion gwych i chwaraewyr a hyfforddwyr ac mae'n gorfodi gweithgynhyrchwyr i wneud popeth yn eu gallu i sicrhau ansawdd. Mae'r cynnydd ym mhoblogrwydd timau pêl-droed llai nag unarddeg bob ochr yn golygu y bydd cyfran enfawr o chwaraewyr ifanc bellach yn datblygu eu sgiliau ar gaeau chwaraeon synthetig. O'r herwydd, mae llawer wedi arfer â'r cysondeb y mae gwasanaethau artiffisial yn ei gynnig ac mae llawer o'n trefi'n elwa o hynny, ond yn anffodus, nid yw hynny'n wir am lawer o'n hardaloedd gwledig. Heddiw, mae caeau chwaraeon porfa artiffisial yn gallu rhagori ar yr amodau chwarae a geir ar borfa naturiol, yn hytrach na dim ond eu hefelychu. Yn ogystal â'r cysondeb, mae'n well gan hyfforddwyr yr arwynebau hyn am eu bod yn efelychu'r ffordd y mae peli'n bownsio ac yn symud dros arwyneb naturiol. Comisiynais ymchwil i'r angen a'r awydd am gaeau chwaraeon porfa artiffisial pan ymunais â'r Senedd y llynedd, a gwnaed y gwaith gan gyn bêl-droediwr Cymru a oedd â gwybodaeth a mynediad at bobl ar bob lefel o bêl-droed a chwaraeon a fyddai'n elwa o gael caeau caeedig o'r fath mewn clwb yn agos at ble roeddent yn byw. Roedd yr ymateb yn rhyfeddol ac yn ddiymwad, o glybiau chwaraeon iau ar lawr gwlad i reolwr tîm Casnewydd, Michael Flynn. Roedd yr angen am hyfforddiant a chyfleusterau chwarae pob tywydd yn amlwg. Bydd plant a phobl ifanc yn gallu chwarae drwy gydol y flwyddyn, gan sicrhau dilyniant yn eu lefelau ffitrwydd, o iechyd meddwl drwy chwarae chwaraeon a gweld eu ffrindiau, i ddysgu sgiliau allweddol, byddant yn gallu chwarae chwaraeon yn ystod misoedd y gaeaf, gan nad yw llawer o deuluoedd yn gallu cludo'u plant dros y pellter sydd angen ei deithio i gyfleusterau mewn trefi lleol y byddai'n rhaid i glybiau eu llogi, neu weld eu plant yn methu chwarae chwaraeon. Bydd yn sicrhau nad yw caeau pêl-droed a rygbi porfa arferol yn cael eu difetha drwy orchwarae pan fyddant yn ceisio chwarae yn y tywydd gwlyb a'r llaid. Mae oedolion hefyd am barhau i chwarae drwy gydol misoedd y gaeaf. Mae'n hanfodol i'n clybiau is-gynghrair eu bod yn parhau i hyfforddi a chwarae ac i'n holl gynghreiriau ledled Cymru, oherwydd, wrth gwrs, mae ceisio ail-drefnu gemau'n drysu trefniadau ac yn creu trafferthion parhaus i glybiau chwaraeon. Ar gyfer chwaraeon proffesiynol, byddai'n golygu eu bod ar yr un lefel â gweddill y DU a'r byd ac yn rhoi'r cyfleoedd gorau posibl inni ddatblygu plant yn sêr chwaraeon Cymru yn y dyfodol. Gallai clybiau proffesiynol chwarae a hyfforddi ym mhob tywydd drwy gydol y flwyddyn er mwyn sicrhau y gall gemau ddigwydd ac y gall clybiau ddatblygu academïau heb orfod poeni am gaeau chwaraeon. Gallai gosod caeau 3G greu ffynonellau incwm newydd a mwy o gyfleoedd i bobl gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon ar bob lefel. Gellir chwarae ystod eang o chwaraeon ar y caeau 3G diweddaraf hyn yn ogystal â phêl-droed, sy'n golygu y gall clybiau cymunedol ddarparu cyfleusterau aml-chwaraeon, gan greu canolfannau hanfodol a fyddai'n sicr yn cael eu llogi'n llawn drwy gydol y flwyddyn, yn ôl y dystiolaeth a gasglais, gan fod cymaint o angen y cyfleusterau pob tywydd hyn. Fel gydag unrhyw wariant ariannol, bydd angen i glybiau chwaraeon edrych ar y cyfnod ad-dalu a'r elw ar y buddsoddiad wrth ystyried porfa artiffisial. Rwy'n gwybod bod Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru, Hoci Cymru, Undeb Rygbi Cymru, yn gweithio ar y cyd â Chwaraeon Cymru, wedi sefydlu gweledigaeth a model y cytunwyd arnynt yn genedlaethol ar gyfer datblygu clybiau a chynyddu nifer y rhai sy'n cymryd rhan drwy arwynebau chwarae wedi'u lleoli'n briodol ac addas i'r diben. Rwyf wedi cael sgwrs gyda'r sefydliadau hynny sy'n cytuno'n llwyr fod angen dybryd i Gymru fuddsoddi mewn mwy o gaeau chwaraeon 3G a 4G at ein defnydd cymunedol a phroffesiynol. Mae Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru wedi sefydlu targed o 100 o gaeau chwaraeon 3G yng Nghymru erbyn 2024. Mae hyn i'w groesawu'n fawr, ond ymhle? Byddwn yn pwyso ar y Llywodraeth i sicrhau ei bod yn cyflwyno - i gael mwy o gaeau chwaraeon, ac i fynd ymhellach ar gyfer pob rhan o Gymru. Mae angen iddi fynd ymhellach i sicrhau bod Cymru gyfan yn elwa o ehangu'r nifer o gaeau chwaraeon porfa artiffisial, gan eu bod i'w gweld yn bennaf mewn ardaloedd trefol ac yn ne Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Lywydd, fel y gallwch ddweud, rwy'n credu'n angerddol yn y manteision o fuddsoddi mewn cyfleusterau 3G a 4G pob tywydd ar gyfer chwaraeon cymunedol a'n clybiau cynghrair, ac i gymunedau eu mwynhau. Mae cynifer o fanteision i'n gwlad; o ran chwaraeon, ond hefyd o ran y manteision iechyd meddwl i bobl hen ac ifanc. Byddai'n diwygio rygbi, pêl-droed a chwaraeon eraill ar lawr gwlad yn llwyr ar gyfer pob oedran a phob gallu. Byddai'n rhoi cyfle cyfartal i'n chwaraewyr proffesiynol ddatblygu eu gêm, gan sicrhau nad ydym yn colli sêr y dyfodol i Loegr oherwydd bod y cyfleusterau gymaint yn well dros y ffin. Mae'n bryd i Gymru ddal i fyny. Fe'm digalonnwyd pan glywais ychydig flynyddoedd yn ôl wrth wneud cais am gae chwarae fy hun fod yr arian wedi dod i ben ar gyfer cyflwyno'r caeau chwaraeon 3G a 4G hyn. Nid wyf am wneud hwn yn fater pleidiol o gwbl mewn gwirionedd, ac rwy'n croesawu ymrwymiad newydd y Llywodraeth i gyflwyno'r caeau chwaraeon hyn ymhellach. Ond rwy'n gofyn i'r Llywodraeth hon a'r nesaf fuddsoddi'n helaeth a buddsoddi'n gyflym i gyflwyno rhaglen ar gyfer sicrhau caeau chwaraeon 3G a 4G pob tywydd ar gyfer cynifer o rannau o Gymru â phosibl, caeau chwaraeon sy'n hawdd i bob cymuned eu cyrraedd, mynediad at chwaraeon 3G a 4G i bawb ym mhob rhan o'n gwlad, gan ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar ardaloedd gwledig, a dull cydgysylltiedig o gefnogi ein his-gynghreiriau gyda'r cyfleusterau hynny, fel y gallwn gefnogi'r broses ar yr un pryd o greu mwy o academïau a mwy o gyfleoedd i'n pobl ifanc allu rhagori mewn chwaraeon. Rwy'n gofyn i bawb ohonoch gefnogi hyn. Diolch.