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Lionel Messi

The future of sports volunteering in Wales, by James Owens

In charge of strategic development of the coaching and volunteering workforce in his work at Sport Wales, and recently appointed to the Sport Wales Advisory Group (SWAG), James Owens is well placed to provide a view on the next steps needed towards the ideal volunteer picture.

Here, he gives his take on the next key steps for sport in Wales.

If there is one thing that is certain about sports volunteering in Wales, it’s that we won’t truly be a world leading nation until everyone takes responsibility for their role in making it a success.

We’ve made such significant strides forward. The proportion of volunteers in Wales has doubled from 5% in 2008/09 to 10% in 2012. That’s around 125,000 more people getting involved in coaching, officiating, washing the kit, administration, and a whole range of other jobs.

Volunteers are committing slightly less hours than they have in the past. But that’s not a negative because we don’t want a situation where person leaving the club can have a drastic negative impact. The ideal for us is a volunteering family where the workload is shared, everyone is clear on their roles and how they contribute, they are supported to do their role and get something back from the time and effort they put in.

But when I say that everyone needs to take responsibility, what do I mean?

Firstly, the public need to take responsibility for the role they can play. We know that parents of school-age children, sport participants and young people – particularly students – are amongst the groups most likely to volunteer. You’re also more likely to volunteer if you’re from a higher social grade.

But the public need to remember that sport doesn’t happen by chance. The huge majority of sporting opportunities are provided at the grassroots by volunteers. If we want young people to have opportunities, it is up to us to provide them. It shouldn’t be acceptable to take a child along to a club not contribute yourself.

Of course, circumstances differ and many people have limited free time. But there is a role that everyone can play and we need to develop a ‘must do’ culture. The days of sitting on the sidelines and letting others take responsibility are gone. Why would you want to stand shivering on the sidelines anyway??

But those of us in the sports sector must take responsibility too because a change in culture doesn’t happen by chance. We have to give our volunteers the support they need to make it as easy as possible for them. We have to champion them, put in place schemes and programmes to reward volunteers for all the work they do, and show them new and innovative ways to be successful.

For too long volunteers were not given enough importance in future planning. Now they are a key ingredient and, certainly from a Sport Wales viewpoint, with the organisations we work with there is an expectation that workforce planning is at their forefront of their work and is being done successfully.

The culture of volunteering was one of the first two projects identified by the independent Sport Wales Advisory Group (SWAG), emphasising its importance.

Linked to that, at Sport Wales we are developing tools and resources to support for volunteers and looking at how we can simplify the roles that we want people to take up.

Wider than that, we need to look who else can contribute. The annual week-long disability sport festival in Neath Port Talbot draws on volunteers from insurance giant Admiral. The sport team get a capable group of volunteers while the business gets disability awareness training and experience for its staff. Sport and business can be such a good fit – be that as a one-off or a healthy marriage of convenience.

And do we truly value and champion our volunteers? They are never going to get the headlines our elite sportspeople enjoy but, surely, we can hold them up as being the people who contribute more than others to community life.

Without our volunteers our towns and villages would be much poorer places to live. We have to keep championing they work they do and inspiring others to follow them in the volunteering family.

In the run up to the Wales Sport Awards I think it’s worth remembering that even a simple thank you can make a difference.

#WSA2014

Acting Today for an Active Tomorrow, Kerry Ann Sheppard - Sport Wales Advisory Group Member

I realise there’s often confusion around which word to use - is it sport, exercise, physical activity? For me, it doesn’t matter. I want to help create a Wales that moves more and that is happier and healthier - and a Wales where our children are less at risk of being obese and developing a life threatening disease. I make no apology for the morbid introduction.

To do that, we need to scan the horizon and look into the future and that’s exactly what an Acting Today for an Active Tomorrow report launched on 27^th November by the Sport Wales Advisory Group has done. This hasn’t relied on crystal balls or psychics but rather drilling down into data and evidence of headwinds, tailwinds and mega trends. In essence, the research reveals some things we kind of knew, like, we’re an ageing society and technology is key but it doesn’t just reveal the obvious. It’s got the right level of detail to really spark the minds of many professionals that work in sport, health, business, government, education and many other sectors that have an interest and stake in creating a happier and healthier Wales.

The Sport Wales Advisory Group launched the 'Acting Today for an Active Tomorrow' report on the 27th November 

The report presents Wales’ ideal future as ‘Sportopia’. My interpretation? A Wales where we move everyday because we want to - it’s the norm and we like it. We don’t have excuses like “I don’t have enough time”, or “I’m tired after work” or “it’s too expensive” – we just get on and do. I suppose it’s a bit like brushing our teeth or washing our face. We do these two things because they make us healthier, makes us feel better and I suppose maybe just because everyone else does. So how do we make Sportopia a reality in Wales? There are two fundamental principles; (1) policy empowers people (2) people have the mindset to move.

How we go about creating these two fundamental principles is where the report really starts to get interesting. Take engaging consumers as our starting point. In 2026 what will we want? The evidence points towards people valuing flexibility, novelty, variety, personalisation, image and all supported by expert advice. We’re going to want products and services that fit around us, that don’t become stale and which provide novel (although still quite familiar as to not see us running out of the door!) experiences on a regular basis. We care what others think about us so we want to be involved in things that project a positive image of who we are and what we’re about. 

Risk is the core – we want minimum risk. No long contracts, no long seasons, and, nothing that will hurt us – our image or our bodies! The extent, to which the consumer of the future will want to be put first, is going to change –in a BIG way.

How many of us have played a certain sport or gone to the same gym or fitness class our entire lives? I haven’t and it’s likely you haven’t either and in the future we won’t be able to count on blind loyalty. A member of your netball team last season may or may not join you for the following season. We change what we like, fads hook us in and we drift away. The constant to create in Sportopia is that everyday we’re moving, doesn’t matter how that it’s happening. 

We’re all getting on a bit and we’re living in an ageing society. Sounds negative to me, but it’s not because what we will have in the future are a bunch of older people that don’t actually consider themselves as old. Which means when I’m 70, I will want to keep playing sport and I’ll want sport to offer products that suit me. Like the report suggests, I won’t feel at 70 that I am too old to move and just because I’ve reached a certain number I am suppose to do what 70 year olds are suppose to do. 

The report suggests we’re all probably going to become more busy - time poor with demanding lives. Gone are the days when team sports can take up our whole evenings and weekends.

And of course, we can’t talk about the future without touching on the Digital Revolution. I remember my first mobile phone. I was 15. It had an aerial! Today, apps, websites, social networks have enabled sport products and services to have global reach. As our needs change, as we drop in and out of different sports and we need to have the data and insight to know what we want to fall into next. 

I’m already living in Sportopia and it would be great if more of Wales did. So, my challenge to you...if you have the power to act, then have the courage to be bold, sit in a quiet corner, read this report, share with others and let the ideas pour into action.

Report is available here: http://www.sportwales.org.uk/about-us/about-sport-wales/our-team/sport-wales-advisory-group/acting-today-for-an-active-tomorrow.aspx

Follow Kerry Ann on twitter: @ka_shep

Find Kerry Ann on Linked In: https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/kerry-ann-sheppard/27/366/107

We’ll all be the judge, by Professor Laura McAllister

After another big sporting year in 2014, Sport Wales Chair – and BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year judge - Professor Laura McAllister gives her take on the runners and riders for the Award this year.

If you know me, you know I’m not someone to shy away from some healthy debate, especially when it comes to Wales’s favourite subject - sport.

We’re all so passionate about sport, both grassroots, in our communities the length and breadth of Wales, and also those individuals and teams that star on the international stage that we hold close to our hearts. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So, as the countdown to Christmas looms, I always know that being part of the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year judging panel will naturally get some debate started with people picking their own top 10 and, in the process, fuelling some healthy debate.

Make no mistake, it’s a very tough task comparing world class athletes and performances across different sports and different competitions. Individual circumstances are all different. Some plough a lone furrow (well that’s not strictly true but you’ll get my point) in their chosen discipline while others step out as part of a team.

With my fellow SPOTY judges, I feel we have made a good job in coming to this impressive shortlist of our top ten.

There might be one or two unfamiliar names on this list to some of you perhaps. But I challenge you to look at their sporting CVs and records and tell me that they are not worthy of their place at the top table of Welsh sport. Any country would be proud of every single one of these fantastic sportspeople.

Jazz Carlin – swimming

Frankie Jones – gymnastics

Gareth Bale – football

Jamie Donaldson – golf

Natalie Powell – judo

Manon Carpenter – cycling

Elinor Barker – cycling

Georgia Davies – swimming

Geraint Thomas – cycling

Rachel James – cycling

Looking back at that shortlist, a few key points resonate with me.

·Seven females and three males. This struck the judges once we’d concluded our deliberations. For me, it is a sign of the absolute depth of talented female sportswomen we are producing in Wales but also the new esteem in which we view these young women. There are not many countries where the sporting gender ‘imbalance’ sways from male domination. We must be doing something right, even if we acknowledge we have more to do to inspire the next generation of girls with these impressive role models

At this point, I must also say I was hugely disappointed that none of these athletes made the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year shortlist. Some surprising omissions I feel.

·Speaking personally, the backing that Team Wales received at Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games shines through. And why wouldn’t it given the record breaking medal haul of 36, putting us above the home nations and powerhouses such as Australia and New Zealand on the medals per capita table. We give our athletes a unique opportunity to wear the red vest of Wales and they thrive under the pressure and passion of what it means to them and their families.

·Allied to giving our top performers a platform to show their undoubted ability, we must have the systems in place to nurture and grow those with exceptional sporting promise. Making the step to the top of the podium is the end of the story. We have invested in support structures such as coaches, facilities, sports science and medicine, and competition, which all equate to giving the best possible opportunity to our medal winners and champions. It is only with intelligent investment and innovative thinking that we will continue to have such success. That’s why we are reviewing our elite investment as we speak to ensure even greater success in future.

·None of these athletes are retiring any time soon. They are a young and hugely gifted group and have a drive and ambition that sets them apart. They want to be the very best and they are an example to young people of the hard work and dedication that leads to success.

I don’t envy the voting public - any of the ten could win and every one would be a worthy winner.

All I can say is that we have done our bit and I’m now just looking forward to welcoming these fabulous ambassadors for Wales and Welsh sport to our Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff on 8^th December for the event….whoever the winner might be.

For more on the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year visit www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/30104905

For more on the Wales Sports Awards visit www.walessportawards.co.uk

Could your Clwb Feature in S4C’s afternoon of Welsh Sport? Dylan Ebenezer, S4C Clwb

We caught up with S4C’s newest sports programme, ‘Clwb’ who have told us why they’re on the lookout for Welsh community clubs to feature as part of their hot new show….

It’s funny how a chance comment can lead to something rather wonderful. From small acorns and all that.

When the new S4C sport programme ‘Clwb’ was being planned over the summer we had the idea of featuring a different club every week.

We thought it would be a great chance to visit different parts of Wales and show what goes on in the smaller clubs around the country.

The variety has simply blown us away.

The films are called ‘Our Club’ and we’ve gone from Weighlifting in Holyhead to Fencing in Cardiff.

From the tranquility of the bowling green to the full on and frantic BMX racing track.

There’s been surfing and curling and the inspirational wheelchair rugby.

We’ve even ventured to the wonderful world of Dodgeball.

And we get the feeling that we’re only just scratching the surface.

The ‘traditional sports’ always tend to dominate.

And ‘Clwb’ is packed with live sport – from Pro 12 rugby to Welsh Premier football.

There’s also highlights of the Welsh superstars in exile.

From the rugby boys in France playing in the Top 14 to La Liga in Spain – where Gareth Bale is having a blast with The Galacticos.

Wales is also the perfect stage for many sporting events.

The landscape has been just as dramatic as some of the triathlon races that we’ve been following.

Add rallying, cycling and mountain biking to the mix and it’s been a great start to the series.

But there’s so much more out there.

The number of clubs that we are coming across is staggering. Each one hugely important in their community.

And we’re always looking for more.

If you’d like us to feature your club then please get in touch.

Don’t be shy – you can follow us on Twitter @Clwbs4c – we’re also ‘Clwb’ on Facebook.

Or email Clwb@rondomedia.co.uk

Healthy Recipe – Brazilian-style BBQ Beef Skewers with Tomato Salad

Our latest recipe brought to you by Welsh Rugby Union National Academy Nutritionist Chris Edwards. A meal packed with nutrients and Protein as well as Iron.

7 ways to get more women and girls playing sport

Most of us are looking for new ways to get more women and girls involved in sport. So you might be interested in those in Wales that are out there doing a great job!

1. Do it the Diva way and keep it fun!

The ladies at Diva Sport suggest a focus on fun and keeping things fresh by introducing hoopblast or burlesque. That way, sport in't just about keeping fit - it's part of your social life..." Co-founder Mel Gill says, "I suppose one of the key factors in Diva Sport is that everything that we do and offer is always done for fun. Just as important as having the classes and equipment that women want to use, is the person who is delivering the class. Our team are brilliant and ensure that every woman who comes here has a good time.

Read the Diva story here

2. Make it your mission

Newport Cricket Club made a pledge to create real opportunities for women at their club. "We felt really guilty; there was nowhere for our girls to go as they got older," said Head Coach Mike Knight. But they have turned that all around - they key, they say, is to make it a priority with a long-term development plan.

Read the Newport Cricket Story here

3. Dispel the myths

The Holyhead and Anglesey Weightlifting and Fitness Centre's female membership is booming - a considerable achievement when you're faced with the stereotype of muscle men pumping iron! Ray Williams, who heads up the centre, says:"We dispel the myth that lots of women have about resistance training building big muscles, and educate them that it assists in body sculpture and weight loss."

Read their story here

4. Create links with local schools

Vale Ladies and Girls Football Club could run masterclasses in how to create school links. Launching a Girls Football Primary School League, they bring together 16 teams from 14 on a fortnightly basis to play regular friendly matches.

Read the Vale Ladies and Girls story here
5. Work together
If clubs work together, share data and best practice - you are better equipped to fulfil demand locally. The South East Regional Netball Forum is a great example of how things work better, when you work together. Local netball hubs have been set up as well as Netball Tots for the little ones!

Read their story here

6. Listen to your customers



This has been the secret of success for Golf Development Wales. Hannah Fitzpatrick says

"Clubs need to provide a really, warm welcome - they need to listen to participants, understand their needs and wants so that they can provide the best possible customer service and package to encourage them to become a member to the club. We need to be able to respond to feedback and adapt offers.

Find out what they did here
7. Be social
This is Sarah Draper's number one tip. She set up Merthyr Running Club from scratch. She says that you have to be friendly and welcoming and that a Facebook page helps: "lots of our members just follow the group and read the posts before they join. Then when they start, they already feel like they know lots of the members and coaches already." They also organise social events.

Read all about it here.

Do you have a tip to share with others? If so, please comment here or get in touch with us on twitter or facebook. If you found these case studies useful, check out our website for more.

Physical Literacy: The best prescription for a healthier nation, Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson DBE

Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson DBE, celebrated as one of our nation’s greatest ever sportswomen,  heralded for lobbying against the inequalities surrounding disability, gender and sport and recently the leader of a radical proposal which propelled Physical Education into the spotlight as an antidote to the future health of Wales.

Following a centre-stage question and answer session at the 2014 Sport Wales Conference, Baroness Grey -Thompson gave us an insight into why she is so passionate about our children gaining the opportunities to be physically active throughout life….

I would count myself as a lucky one.  I was given the opportunity to try lots of sports and practice basic physical skills from a very young age.  I loved sport, it had always been a positive and fun experience for me and I wanted to do more and more of it.  I was not always the best at first, but I was keen and had the confidence to understand that it was ok not be good overnight.   I was physically literate.

This obviously went on to play a significant role in my future, but it’s something that would still be making a hugely positive contribution to my life now, had I of followed any other career route.  That’s because regardless of my day job I’d still be physically active, enjoying the many benefits, health included, that this brings.

I know this because the fact that I was given the opportunity to develop and practice skills such as throwing and catching a ball when I was a child, means that I have the confidence to go and try new things and not only that, I really want to, it’s part of my DNA.

And this is what we want for all of our children.  In basic terms we want them to have the skills, confidence and motivation to be taking part in sport and physical activity now and then for the rest of their lives.  We want them all to be physically literate. 

I could go on about the many social benefits that sport and being physically active can bring but perhaps most simply; because we are facing a ticking obesity time-bomb, due in part to inactive lifestyles.

Many children in Wales are saying that they dislike sport because they do not feel they are good enough to participate, if this is not dealt with these children will struggle to regularly take part in sport for the rest of their lives.

It’s a bit like basic maths, if children don’t think they can make simple additions and subtractions, they will shy away from using these skills throughout life.  We’d all agree that this would be detrimental to their futures – yet we still cannot all see that, not having the right skills and confidence to be active will be detrimental to their future health.

This is why we are recommending that Physical Education (PE) is made a core subject within Wales.  PE plays such a significant role in shaping our children’s views and attitudes towards sport.  And although some are getting great experiences and we are seeing improvements, it is still hit and miss - and that’s not good enough.

Giving the subject core status will mean that teachers get the strong training required to be delivering lessons that are fun and enjoyable for all children, not just those who are excelling in the area, but also that provide our youngsters with the fundamental skills to take part in all kinds of sports, now and in their futures.

We are very much hoping that Professor Donaldson, who is leading the review of our groups proposal, will see the vast potential impact to our nation’s future and make a positive recommendation.  It’s time that we started to take bold actions in these areas, the consequences of not doing so are devastating.  It’s time we stood together, sport, education and health to tackle a problem that simply will not just fade away.

Gathering evidence and writing strategies is no longer enough.  In fact, if writing strategies and consultations was an Olympic sport we’d be Gold medallists.  But in this circumstance we are not after Gold medals, we are trying to make a tremendous step change in the habits and lifestyles of our nation, for the future health of our children, and that takes brave and radical actions.

Sport is Wales’ Success Story: There’s never been a better time to be involved

After an unprecedented level of success and on the day that marks the start of an historical agreement between sport and health, Sport Wales, Chair Laura McAllister calls for a commitment from sport to be working with other sectors in achieving an improved future for Wales…

We’re extremely proud to say that sport is Wales’ success story.  You’ve only got to look at the recent headlines for proof.  Be it, Jamie Donaldson winning the Ryder Cup for Europe, Gareth Bales’ delight at wining the Champions League with Real Madrid or one of the many tales of victory from the Team Wales camp at Glasgow 2014. 

And from this success story we have in our midst a whole new breed of role models, right from the very hearts of our communities in Wales.  Forget your celebrities and X-factor contestants; how many children were inspired to take up gymnastics by Frankie Jones and Laura Halford?  How many kids jumped on their bikes and dreamt of being the next Elinor Barker?

2014 has very much marked the start of a journey for Wales, a journey where we must all be looking to build on success and make improvements.

And when we talk about success, we don’t just mean medals and personal bests.  Our efforts must also concentrate on every person in Wales and their own personal journeys within sport.  It’s about personal podiums, be it a social kick about, signing up for a charity 5k, or plucking up the courage to go to that first Zumba class. 

In Wales we are leading the UK, in seeing more and more people reap the benefits of regular physical activity.  But that does not mean that we can be complacent; more than ever we need to be making every effort to get those who aren’t started and those who are, doing more.  Sport has the potential to make a life changing difference to everybody and we will not be satisfied until the entire nation is hooked on sport.

Sport is in our DNA and has a unique hold over us in Wales.  Win or lose we kick every ball, make every try saving tackle and run every race.  As a nation we embrace the values that underpin sport: Pride and passion, belief and togetherness.  And we must use this; the power of sport, to inspire us all to be better and make our vision of a nation hooked, a reality.

We are a long way from our full potential.  We still have too many adults who are inactive, too many school children not enjoying PE and too many participation gaps between communities, particularly those living in poverty.  In simple terms we cannot accept that people in Wales have limited access to the benefits of sport.

But we will not achieve this on our own. It’s time that we move sport from the side-lines, to play its vital part in delivering a stronger, smarter, more sustainable and successful Wales.  And do to this we need Leaders who are going to take the front seat in driving forward change.

Today marks the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Welsh NHS Confederation.  This demonstrates our ambition for doing things together and differently, but it is the actions that flow from the agreement that will make the real difference.

Our focus is to put the health back into the NHS.  The World Health Organisation has identified lack of physical activity as one of the leading risk factors for global health.  We obviously have a vital role to play here and we should be energised by the opportunity Wales has to be at the forefront of tackling inactivity through revolutionising our relationship with the health service.

And this is not just ours or the NHS’s responsibility; it has to start at the earliest ages.  Through our schools we have a real opportunity to equip young people with the skills and motivation to become the healthiest nation the world.

By placing physical literacy at the heart of the school experience for every child, we could be making the single most important step change in improving the health of the nation.  Through the review of the curriculum being undertaken by Professor Donaldson, we have in our hands the opportunity to make the Welsh education system the envy of the world, one which is proud not only of academic success but an improved resilience towards everything that adult life can throw at us.

The challenge to our sector is therefore to make sport more accessible to all.  It is our duty to offer sport in an engaging, exciting and enjoyable way.  We must be planning with the mind-set of ‘how do we engage everyone in what we love?’

I’m not prepared to look back and say that 2014 was the high water mark for Welsh sport and neither should you.  Sport has the ability to change lives and revitalise communities and we all have the responsibility for making sure this happens.

Sport: A level playing field

The Welsh Language Commissioner has worked with many of the national governing bodies of sport by sharing information on how to increase their Welsh medium provision.

According to the 2011 Census results the age group with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers is 10 -14 year olds, of which 42.2% speak Welsh.  

There has been a steady increase in the percentage of 3-4 year olds who speak Welsh and experts believe that this figure should increase again by the next census.

With the number of young people with Welsh language skills increasing it’s possible that there will be a greater demand for Welsh medium services. 

The advantages of offering Welsh medium services:

¢  Offering services in Welsh is a way of giving your members a comprehensive service.

¢  It’s a way of showing pride in your Welsh identity.

¢  It can help you to reach new audiences through gaining coverage in Welsh language media.

¢  It can help you to increase membership and gain new volunteers

¢  Offering Welsh medium services can be a grant condition.


Where to start?

¢  Conduct an audit of your staff, trainers and volunteers’ Welsh language skills.

¢  Assess your current Welsh medium provision.

¢  Identify any gap in your current provision and identify opportunities to fill those gaps.

¢  Encourage your athletes, trainers and members to use their Welsh language skills.

¢  Ensure that you include Welsh language content in your marketing materials.

¢  Ensure that you include Welsh medium provision in your planning from the outset; it’s much easier than trying to translate or to recruit Welsh speaking volunteers at the last minute. 

What can the Welsh Language Commissioner offer you?
We can offer you tailored support on how to increase your Welsh medium provision.

Free proofreading service, up to a 1,000 words – if you can prepare the text in Welsh we can get it proof-read by a professional translator. 

 Training on Welsh language awareness and practical guidance on how to develop Welsh medium services.

Guidance on how to recruit Welsh speaking volunteers

If you would like further information on how the Commissioner may be able to offer guidance contact:

post@WelshLanguageCommissioner.org

0845 6033 221

Creating an elite sporting environment

Way before Kylie joined the Welsh team at the closing ceremony (it wasn't a private gig unfortunately!) to celebrate their fantastic medal haul, back at Sport Wales HQ we were already busy putting plans in place for their return.

 

We wanted to ensure we were shouting their success from the rooftops. And what better place to celebrate than the home of Welsh sport? Our Marketing Manager Adam Fairbank explains more about the importance of creating an inspiring elite sporting environment.

 

Marketing Manager Adam Fairbank

 

   

Why is the environment so important?

Sport inspires. At Sport Wales it is our role to not only work with current sporting superstars such as Aled Davies, Frankie Jones and Natalie Powell but also inspire the next generation of Welsh athletes who will follow in their footsteps.

Frankie Jones outside 'her' window

 

How many young gymnasts will feel inspired to train harder after seeing Frankie Jones on the front windows of the Sport Wales National Centre?

 

Well here's one for starters...

 

Gymnast inspired by golden girl Frankie Jones

 

But it’s not just about inspiring the athletes who use the centre. Everyone here will have their own personal podium. Being surrounded by success, breeds success and the elite brand messaging and imagery of medal success motivates individuals to be the best they can be, whatever their goal.

 

The physical environment also provides us with a fantastic tool in our armoury to communicate our organisational attitude and the culture we want to create. We expect success. Team Wales' performance in Glasgow showed the sporting world just how strong a sporting nation we are. We no longer punch above our weight, we are a force to be reckoned with and we are not afraid to shout loud and proud.

 

 

We're passionate about sport, we believe in the difference that sport can make at so many levels of Welsh society and we are not shy in communicating the difference we make. The Sport Wales National Centre provides us with a perfect canvas on which to do this.

 

We also wanted to create a stronger link between the athletes and those people who work in the centre. Each of the athletes who won a medal in Glasgow will have an intrinsic link to the fantastic team at Sport Wales. Our grants team may have awarded a grant to their club or our housekeeping team has ensured they get the best night’s sleep when they stay at the centre. Maybe they have eaten in our Hwb cafeteria or they have spent the day with our sport science and medicine team. We are all part of Team Wales. We have all played a pivotal role in the success and we shouldn't be afraid to pat ourselves on the back.

 

There's still plenty of work to do - plenty more wall space to fill and much more sporting success to come I am sure.  So next time your near Sophia Gardens, why not pop in and see for yourself. 

A team 3-million strong

As Team Wales secure their most successful performance at a Commonwealth Games, we look back at the huge role which you, the Welsh public have played in supporting our team to the shiny heights of success.

#PobLwc2014 saw Wales go selfie crazy to raise the momentum and spirit of the team.  Filling social media and taking centre stage at Team Wales HQ in Glasgow, your pictures provided a message of passion, belief and pride for our athletes.

And the message came through loud and strong, as pictures flooded to us in their hundreds, showing that young and old, male and female, workplaces, schools, clubs and charities, we were all proud to be supporting Team Wales.

Pictures flooded in from across the country and in some cases from across the globe;  we even saw one dedicated Welsh family take the #PobLwc2014 message on tour around the host nation....

After securing tickets to cheer on their country, the Drew family decided to combine a stint at Glasgow 2014 with a family holiday touring Scotland.

And seeing the #PobLwc2014 campaign, gave Dad Ian an idea – not only to send in messages of support from some of the most iconic landmarks of the host nation, but also to build a story for baby Gruff – to hopefully inspire him when he got older.

From Orkney, to Loch Ness, Dundee to the St. Andrew’s beach where Chariots of Fire was filmed....

 #PobLwc2014 and with it the spirit of a winning Wales made its mark for Team Wales courtesy of The Drew Family.

And their story sums up the overwhelmingly creative and passionate support that has been given to the team.

And a Winning Wales we have proven we are.  The Team Wales athletes smashed their medal targets and put our nation firmly on the sporting elite roll call.

Something which we can all be proud of, not only as an onlooker, but as passionate supporters who let our team know that we always had full belief in them.

We hope that their story will now inspire a next generation (including Gruff) to take part and achieve their own sporting successes across Wales.

View the full PobLwc2014 album here https://www.flickr.com/photos/83294408@N02/sets/72157644984121541/