From fans to participants

Tom Walker, Editor

This year, the UK has hosted the Women’s T20 World Cup, Wimbledon, The Open, the Commonwealth Games and the European Athletics Championships. These events matter beyond medals and television audiences. They put sports in front of children and young people who may suddenly decide: I want to try that. Glasgow 2026 offered perhaps the clearest example. After years in which the Commonwealth Games appeared to be fighting for its future, Glasgow showed there is still a place for the event. By using existing venues, concentrating competition within the city and adopting a leaner model, it also provided a blueprint for future hosts of the Games. Read more about the “Glasgow Model” and the venues used during the games from page 42.

Inspiration, however, is only useful if there is somewhere to act on it. While Winston Churchill probably didn’t have sports facilities in mind when he said that “we shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us”, he might as well as had. Because well-designed, safe and sustainable sports facilities matter enormously – and investing in them is crucial.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Rewiring the State agenda could fundamentally alter how sport – from community venues to activity programmes – is funded, shifting influence towards local leaders. Personally, I believe locally informed decision-making can have a transformative and hugely positive effect on where and how investments are made. But devolution without strong national standards can also entrench inequalities; the NHS offers enough warnings about postcode variation (more on this on page 38).

New ukactive CEO Cameron Saunders, meanwhile, arrives to the physical activity sector from a career spanning film, television, advertising and entertainment. If sport is to reach new audiences, learning how to compete for people’s attention may be every bit as important as building the places in which they can be active. You can read Cameron’s thoughts on this on page 32.

Tom Walker, Editor