Switch The Play Foundation’s Post

So well written and expressed. It seems that the politicians- of all parties and throughout the nations of the UK categorise sport as a spectator activity and not at all as one of the most significant participation aspects of civil society? So many of our European neighbours continue to support and develop community sport as a political priority- for health and wellbeing; for social cohesion and a sense of belonging; for fun; for informal learning. My abiding concern now is that our “sport systems” and “local policies” need so much repair and restoration . Could we develop “national frameworks “for community sport- which empower and enable communities for Sport for All? All meaning All?

‘Team GB was an Olympic triumph of public spending. Now can we please invest in everyone else’ - The Guardian “If we want to take a positive message away from Paris 2024, it is that targeted public investment works. Yes, it matters how and where it is spent, but whatever the patterns of causation, there is absolutely no chance of transforming the activity rate, and the mental and physical health of the nation, without spending a lot more money, especially in poorer areas. Sport England who are responsible for developing grassroots sport, are working with a budget of about £250m for the whole country; a figure so small, in terms of public expenditure, that it would otherwise only buy a handful of fighter jets or a single large hospital. Local authorities responsible for leisure centres and community sport have been devastated by 14 years of austerity and are closing swimming pools, selling off green spaces and spending less than half of what they did on recreation a decade and a half ago. In any reasonable model of public accounting, a sustained investment in the nation’s playing fields, sporting facilities, school sports, community programmes and, above all, staffing – in the billions rather than millions – and a similar level of investment in making walking and cycling the norm for urban transport, would be an immediate priority with huge and obvious health and economic benefits. At a fraction of the cost, it would deliver better and more egalitarian outcomes than the £11bn we spend on the roads every year, and given the scale of sickness at work, deliver a greater boost to the nation’s productivity. The UK’s Olympic athletic model may not get us off the sofa, but if we were to adopt its ambition, focus and scale up the funding, it might: and that would be an Olympic legacy without parallel.” #Play #PhysicalLiteracy #PhysicalActivity #Leisure #Sport #ActiveWellbeing #ActiveTravel

🏅 The Financial Struggles of the World's Greatest Athletes 🏅 I recently came across an eye-opening article about the financial challenges faced by decathletes and heptathletes. These athletes compete in some of the most demanding and multifaceted events in sports, yet many struggle with inadequate financial support despite their incredible achievements and dedication. It's disheartening to see such talented individuals facing these difficulties. Decathletes like Zach Ziemek, who recently earned a spot on the US Olympic team, exemplify the relentless dedication required to compete in the world's most challenging athletic events. Despite his achievements, including a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, Ziemek’s journey is marked by financial challenges. With fewer sponsorships and less media coverage compared to other track events, decathletes often struggle to fund their careers. While athletes like Katie Ledecky, Simone Biles, Noah Lyles, Caeleb Dressel, and Sha'Carri Richardson can secure multimillion-dollar endorsements, many Olympians face financial instability, especially those in less spotlighted events like the decathlon. The support structures are inadequate, with only 11.5% of Olympic athletes receiving sponsorships, leaving many to rely on grants, personal savings, and family support to pursue their dreams. The historical context reveals a golden era of support from companies like Visa in the '90s, but such backing has dwindled. In the modern landscape, decathletes balance multiple jobs and seek alternative funding methods, including social media and coaching, to continue their pursuit of excellence. As the Paris Games continues, the hope is that captivating performances will renew interest and support for these remarkable athletes. However, the struggle continues, underscoring the need for more robust support systems for our top athletes. Read more about their journey: [https://lnkd.in/eRvp27s9]

Check out my latest article below highlighting some recent observations of poor behaviour from the sidelines of kids sports and how it’s likely to affect our sports stars of tomorrow.

I've seen both social media and general commentary about the Olympic spirit and how there's often surprise that the Olympians are often so supportive and friendly despite being fierce competitors. But I don't think this is limited to Olympics, it feels like it's a wider sporting change that's happened over the past years, and for me it's only a positive. Back when sports clubs were founded, they were ways for local areas to compete against each other against their common enemy - maybe it was the town down the road, or in early football, the workers vs the private schools (confusingly referred to as public schools in the UK) - and there was a greater identity around a club. It was not unusual for there to be 'one club' players - those that never played for another club out of loyalty and commitment to a cause. But I don't think that's realistic in 2024 - sport has been commercialised and been turned into a product - and a lot of that is positive - better medical treatment, better Player Care, better support more generally - but also a higher workload, more commitment and a loss of local identity that goes with clubs. So many of these Olympians (and sports people more widely) will have trained together since they were kids, even from opposions nations/clubs. So many of their families will know each other. So many of them will have had to move abroad and will have been each other's support network. So yes, while it's obvious they want to win, there's also often a shared happiness for the people who have been around them since day 1 to succeed too. Ahead of every Premier League game I've worked, you'll see players or staff from another team chatting in the tunnel, often in their native tongue, catching up. I think it's great to see the comraderie of the sport - the competitiveness left on the pitch. At clubs I've worked, we'd often look to see what players local clubs have, even rivals, to see if they're from similar backgrounds to see if they can help support each other. The South Americans at West Ham & Tottenham were often having an 'asada' (BBQ) together - the fans are rivals, the teams want to beat each other, but the humans were friends. One of the best things about working in football is the diverse group of people you meet through the work - I've learnt so much about cultures I'd never normally have been exposed to. I tried Stegt Flaesk for the first time at Brentford, a delicious Danish pork dish, I was gifted a bottle of Sokolova plum brandy by a Serbian player at Southampton - I visited a mosque with a player at West Ham to learn about his community. All things I wouldn't have had without football, because people within the game are happy to share, teach and learn. I'll miss the Olympics - the ability to get really into a sport live at 2pm on a Tuesday that you've never seen before (speed climbing is great!) not only because it's athletes at their best, but because it's people at their best too.

How financially viable is a career in sport? How can Olympians and Paralympians be better supported? Here are my thoughts. #LinkedInNewsAustralia In my opinion, sports are the outcome of passion, and individuals who go on to represent Australia in the Olympics and Paralympics are very passionate about their sport. Naturally, financial viability is not prioritised; rather, representing the nation becomes the ultimate goal. It is very shocking to me that the Australian Sports Foundation revealed that 46% of Australia’s elite athletes over the age of 18 earn less than $23,000 per annum, and 42% of those aged 18 to 34 suffer poor mental health as a result. So how can we better support our sports starts? 1. Financial literacy should be introduced early in life so that they learn how to manage and plan their financial lives. 2. Access to financial advice should be prioritised, and associations and responsible entities should organise this. 3. Webinars and workshops around financial education should be planned well and scheduled in the calendar, just like the sports training schedule. Empowering our sports stars through knowledge and coaching will go a long way in addressing this pressing issue and improving their well-being. It is high time that we gave equal importance to the financial well-being and not just the mental and physical fitness of the sports stars.

In the US youth sports reform movement, Norway has long been seen as a model to emulate, especially since Tom Farrey published a NYT article about Norway's inclusive approach in 2019. However, the US has made few (if any) strides in the direction of "keeping more kids in sports for as long as possible." In fact, we've maybe even regressed, and one of the big reasons is that many of our sport NGBs and youth sports programs see efforts towards "equity and inclusion" as separate from "high performance." Equity and inclusion are not altruistic, nice-to-haves in sport, they are the basis around which we develop sporting excellence. Because we have decided, as a society, that we are fine with a youth sports model that is financially exclusive, we have simultaneously decided to limit the talent pool for elite athletes. Because we have decided that youth sports should be focused on competitive success, we utilize a sort and select model that further limits the talent pool. In this new article on Norway's sporting success, their elite sports director puts it this way: ***** "The philosophy is to keep sports opportunities open to everyone for as long as possible. “At the elite level, things are very, very, very professional,” Ovrebo said. But before then, the focus is on retention." Keeping score is discouraged for participants until age 13, he said. Children are encouraged to remain in sports regardless of ability. “Big nations are all about selection, getting rid of people,” Ovrebo said. Norway allows children who are “late developers, or whose parents could not support them” time to find their potential, he said. ****** Until we make a nation-wide decision that our exclusive and inaccessible youth sports model is damaging our potential for high performance greatness, we will under perform as a country. Yes - we always win a lot of medals and dominate in certain sports, but given our relative size and our possible talent pool, we are leaving a lot of medals on the table and leaving a lot of great athletes off of our Olympic teams.

We’re slightly late to the party in showing our support for the recent government commitment of £344 million over the next four years to UK Olympic and Paralympic athletes. 🇬🇧 This boost, alongside The National Lottery’s ongoing funding, provides essential financial stability, allowing over 1,000 athletes to focus more fully on their goals as they prepare for milestones like Milan Cortina 2026 and LA 2028. At THRIVE, we believe this investment reflects an important step towards supporting athletes on their journey to creating more extraordinary sporting moments - something we’ve been so fortunate to have in an abundance in recent times. We feel strongly that every athlete deserves the chance to reach their peak without the fear of financial instability holding them back. However, while this funding provides essential resources and security to pursue athletic dreams, it doesn’t fully address the broader, holistic needs of athlete wellbeing and career transition, which is where THRIVE steps up. We exist to provide the "comfort blanket" — the support athletes need beyond competition. Our mission is to empower athletes to build happier, more fulfilling careers and lives away from the track. We're thrilled to see a future where British athletes can chase their dreams with more support and conviction, and with our helping hand, de-risk their dreams knowing there is a softer landing if and when they fall. #THRIVE #AthleteWellbeing #CareerTransition #Olympics #Paralympics #BritishSport Department for Culture, Media and Sport | UK Sport | Sally Munday | Jon Dutton OBE

Reflecting on the recent Olympic Games, I found myself inspired by the incredible athletic achievements I witnessed—but also surprised and shocked when I heard about the financial inequalities that persist across different countries and sports. The announcement that athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics would receive $50,000 for winning a gold medal was a significant step forward, yet it also highlighted a broader issue: not all athletes are recognised or rewarded equally for their hard work and dedication. For example, while gold medalists in the United States receive $37,500, athletes in Hong Kong are awarded a staggering $768,000 for the same achievement. Meanwhile, in the UK, athletes rely on grants and support for training, with no direct cash bonuses for medals. This disparity raises important questions about how we value athletic achievement and, more broadly, how we approach equity in all areas of life. Shouldn't all athletes, regardless of their sport or country, be given the same opportunity to thrive both on and off the field? I believe it's crucial that we address these inequalities to foster a spirit of unity and support across the global sporting community. Equity isn't just about fairness in sport—it's about ensuring that everyone has the resources and recognition they deserve, no matter where they come from. Paris put on a great show, but as we look ahead to future Games, I hope we see a more equitable approach that truly values the contributions of all athletes and make the Olympic experience—and all areas of life—fairer for everyone involved 🥇 🥈 🥉 #Equity #Olympics #Fairness #PeopleProfitPlanet #Inclusion #GlobalSportingCommunity #ESG

What role has sport played in your life? How has it shaped who you are? As British Columbia nears its provincial election, it’s important to remember that a vote for sport means voting for health, connection, and community. Sport is not just about physical fitness—its impact goes far beyond that. Participation in sport at any level can: 🧠 Enhance cognitive development, learning, and educational outcomes 🤗 Improve both physical and mental well-being 🤝 Foster social connections, contributing to safer, more diverse, and inclusive communities 💸 Drive economic growth through tourism, job creation, and more! As a high-performance athlete, I’ve experienced firsthand how transformative sport can be. It has taught me resilience, discipline, and so much more than I ever imagined. The contributions of the sport sector to our overall well-being often go unrecognized. Join the conversation and support Sport BC Voting for Sport campaign: https://lnkd.in/g2yrf5Tn #MentalHealthMatters #SportBC #PoweringSport #BCVotes #Voting4Sport