making extra time to talk about Welsh sport - Brian Davies column

Hopes for Birmingham 2022

In every four year cycle, the Commonwealth Games generates a huge amount of pride and passion by providing a unique opportunity for elite athletes to don the red of Cymru.

Over more recent years there’s been a realisation that athlete development is about the all-round development of an individual rather than the chasing of specific medals. In any Games, or competition we no longer look to set medal targets but support each athlete to perform to their best ability and achieve their individual dreams. 

Supporting any athlete’s all-round development rather than training them for any specific medal will lead to greater all-round long-term performance and is likely result in greater achievement. 

Over the next fortnight, I'd like to see more of what started to be seen at the last edition of the Games in 2018 at the Gold Coast which was athletes, media and public talking as much about the endeavour, attitude and behaviours of the Welsh athletes in comparison with the actual results. Everyone wants to win (it’s human nature) but how you try to win and how you react when you do or don’t win demonstrates more about your character and upbringing than anything else. It’s what can set you aside from being a winner or plucky loser and a true Champion or genuine class athlete. We often talk about champion people, not just champion athletes. 

The importance of a multi-sport approach 

I’m sure that the efforts and stories of our athletes at the Commonwealth Games will strike a chord with young people across Wales, inspiring them to either try out a new sport or do more of the activities they already enjoy.

We firmly believe that the best way for a young person to fully thrive in sport is for them to experience a range of sports from a young age as this helps them to develop a broader range of skills and techniques that will keep them stay hooked to sport for life. The more a young person is exposed to multiple sports in different environments, the better. And the more friends they will make too!

To help with this, I know that many of you have been busily preparing a range of activity programmes for the summer to capitalise on the buzz around the Commonwealth Games. In particular, I’m excited to see the impact of this year’s ‘Summer of Sport’ funding. Welsh Government were really pleased with the impact of last year’s funding as well as the ‘Winter of Wellbeing’. A survey of last year’s attendees found that 88% of ‘Summer of Sport’ participants felt that it helped them be more active and 73% felt it helped them manage their mental health.

I wish you all a successful summer.

And of course, don’t forget that our two funding streams – The Be Active Wales and A Place for Sport – remain available for grassroots clubs and organisations. Please visit www.sport.wales to find out more.