# data[].attributes.body
Sport England looking to create a smooth and easy pathway for young talent to become successful and safe within sport. Sport England wants there to be physical and mental health to keep young talented athletes healthy and the best there can be. There could be a cultural barrier which needs to be removed so everyone has the best chance possible to fulfill their true potential and hopefully reach their targets. England targets to include all so everyone has a chance.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our talent plan

We've created a plan that outlines our aspirations and approach to talent. Watch the video below for an introduction to our Talent Plan for England, and continue reading for more information on our ambitions, objectives, guiding principles and key work strands.

Our ambition

The world's best talent system is one that keeps on winning, so producing more and better athletes and performances remains a prime objective.

All athletes and coaches know that standing still is going backwards. We believe continued success should not be taken for granted.

The experience that (mostly young) athletes receive will have a lasting effect on not only their sporting performance, but also their mental and physical health.

Young people enter the talent system with great ambitions and aspirations, and while most of them will never represent England or Great Britain, they should leave the talent system having fulfilled their potential and relished the opportunity. We believe that training to win and enjoying the experience are not mutually exclusive.

We have a concern that not only the culture of talent pathways, but also the sheer cost of being talented, may be a real barrier to this. Helping all young athletes to fulfil their potential is our objective, producing national teams we can both relate to and be proud of.

We believe that how we win is as important as what we win.

Our talent plan has twin objectives:

Progression

Develop a talent system in England that produces higher quality athletes throughout the entire pathway, including performance foundations, and environments that deliver a positive development experience and encourage retention in the sport system.

Inclusion

Ensure England Talent Pathways are accessible and inclusive to all who have the ability and potential.

Our key work strands

We've defined five key strategies that will help realise our objectives of progression and inclusion:

The England talent system

The England Talent Pathway (ETP) is an integral part of the UK's high-performance system. That's why we've committed in the region of £85 million of investment into the England talent system for the 2017-21 funding cycle, and currently fund ETPs in 43 sports.

Amongst them are a mix of Olympic and Paralympic sports, some of which deliver programmes across Great Britain and Northern Ireland and are in receipt of World Class Programme funding from UK Sport.

There are also a significant number of Commonwealth Games, individual, team and disability sports that aren't in receipt of UK Sport funding. As a result, their performance pathways are resourced in other ways.

Collectively these ETPs are significant in their scale. There are around 60,000 selected athletes within ETP programmes and 200,000 aspiring, predominantly young, athletes accessing coaching and competition as part of entry level national governing body talent programmes.

How Sport England and UK Sport align

UK Sport currently targets investment and support to Olympic and Paralympic sports with credible medal potential for athletes across the UK.

The Performance Pathway spans the Podium and Podium Potential stages, which are typically when an athlete is respectively four or eight years out from an Olympic or Paralympic Games.

The 'World Class Programme environment' is defined as the Podium and Podium Potential activity of these UK Sport-funded Great Britain and Northern Ireland World Class Programmes.

We, like the other home country sports councils, invest in and support the stages prior to the Performance Pathway for English athletes and programmes. This is known as the Talent Pathway.

The key interface between the two agencies and their respective investment programmes is the stage known as Performance Foundations.

Performance Foundations is defined as sports-specific programmes where a selected cohort of highly talented athletes within the upper levels of the Home Country Talent Pathways are identified, confirmed and prepared to meet the increased demands of the World Class Programme environment.

What is the England Talent Pathway?

The England Talent Pathway is how we describe the route of development of talented athletes, about which the stages, structures, policies, practices and partners/stakeholders are organised.

When we refer to the talent pathway, we're describing all the moving parts that support the development and progression of the athletes. National governing bodies (NGBs) tend to organise their support for athletes around certain age groups, or stages of development and performance.

These pathway stages are ideally linked to each other by a common development curriculum or framework. This is essentially a recipe, designed to develop optimal performance at a senior level, that's delivered by specialist coaches and sport science practitioners.

Athletes progress through stages of the pathway by way of milestone events (for example, age-related banding, competition results and education changes) or skill-based criteria.

The scheme helps athletes in education (aged 16 and above) to get the best from their sporting and academic careers.

Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DISE)

Formerly known as the Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence, DISE is a sports performance programme that provides a structured training and development route for talented young athletes aged 16-19. The programme is run by the relevant sport NGBs and applications should be made via them - details of the 2021 programme principles and criteria can be found here.

This includes but isn't limited to: affiliating to the international federation/governing body, selecting and nominating international teams, upholding the rules of the sport, training and qualification of key roles and personnel, and organising the training and competition pathways and structures for both recreational and competitive participation.

Talent inclusion

We want to ensure England Talent Pathways are accessible to everyone who has the ability and potential, regardless of background or circumstance.

Currently, many sports would appear to be unsuccessful in identifying and recruiting talent from under-represented groups in the UK. This is ultimately narrowing the potential pool of talent.

In addition to the potential performance gains of drawing from a wider pool of talent, we want to make our national teams more reflective of the population, so they're more relevant to the nation.

The key task is to ensure we create a system that seeks to identify and remove prohibitive barriers (those that may disproportionately affect the progression of athletes from certain groups or backgrounds) and thereby enable anyone who has the characteristics and ability required to succeed, to fulfil their potential.

What do we mean by inclusion in talent pathways?

Backing The Best

The rising cost of becoming a sports star has led to some of England's top up-and-coming talent dropping out of sport altogether.

Research carried out by the charity SportsAid shows athletes and their families are paying on average £7,100 a year to fund their child's sporting ambitions.

Backing The Best - our groundbreaking scheme that commits £5.5 million of National Lottery funding over four years - supports the families of the next Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis-Hill or Ellie Simmonds who might feel competitive sport is otherwise out of their financial reach.

What are the challenges?

One of the biggest challenges facing many talented young athletes is the cost of travel and accommodation, especially when the athlete in question climbs the ladder of success and starts to compete on the international stage.

According to the SportsAid study, more than two thirds of young athletes rely entirely on their parents and charitable donations to fund their sporting dreams.

The bank of Mum and Dad covered a collective bill of more than £7.5 million annually for 1,192 young SportsAid-supported athletes, with parents taking on second jobs or having to go without to make ends meet.

Who are we supporting?

While Backing The Best opens up opportunities for talented young athletes, the scheme isn't open to everyone. Only young, exceptionally talented athletes in the early stages of their careers and who face the greatest financial challenges qualify.

SportsAid, which is managing the scheme, already support a host of athletes facing similar challenges, including 18-year-old amateur boxer Sophie Colebourn and nine-time BMX racing champion Kye Whyte.

Paratriathlete Emily Harris has also raced her way to the top and is now England number one after learning how to ride an adapted bike for the first time - but it's been an expensive journey and Emily's mother has re-mortgaged their home to pay for her daughter's sport.

It's athletes of this ilk that have faced such challenges to reach the highest level that will benefit most from Backing The Best.

How to get involved

SportsAid work with coaches and national governing bodies of sport to identify the athletes for whom an award could make a big difference.

Annual awards of up to £5,000 are made on a case-by-case basis, specifically contributing to essential costs such as travel, accommodation, kit and support by coaches and physios.

To find out more and get in involved, athletes should speak to their coach and/or national governing body (NGB). NGBs can make nominations to SportsAid in November.

Follow the story

You can follow the story of some of those Backing The Best has supported, using the hashtag #BackingTheBest on Twitter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From our Talent Plan for England, to the Backing the Best fund, find out about our working supporting England's promising young athletes.

# data[].attributes.body
São Paulo based entrepreneur and football fan Carlos Barros, alleged corruption and the use of public funds are a key factor in popular discontent around the legacy of the World Cup.

Many people thought hosting the tournament was a bad idea. The tournament had many memories for people and was a success on the football side with the talent on offer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Just 12 months ago the festival of football that was the 2014 World Cup came to an end. It was a memorable tournament on the pitch, but at what cost to Brazil?

For England, it forced another long, hard look in the mirror, but the competition itself will be regarded as one of the best.

The showpiece which promised so much delivered on the pitch; a roaring start yielded 28 goals in the first eight games, there was controversy throughout, the second highest average attendance in the World Cup's history and a host nation gloriously lifted and brutally discarded.

Here, we look at the legacy of Brazil 2014 on and off the pitch, 365 days since Germany's final win over Argentina at the Maracana...
Salvaging the Selecao
Brazil's 7-1 defeat at the hands of Germany was more than a defeat. Tears aside, the World Cup exit marked the end of Luiz Felipe Scolari's tenure, and 12 months later just seven of the 23-man squad remained.

Dunga's new-look Brazil won their next 11 games on the trot after the World Cup, conceding just three goals and seeing off the likes of Colombia, Argentina, France and Chile.

As one of the most anticipated Copa America tournaments neared last month, only Neymar, Willian, Fernandinho, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves and goalkeeper Jefferson remained from their World Cup squad.

"We need to learn from what happened," Dunga said last summer. "There needs to be constructive criticism, and things done differently."

Different approach, same result. The average age of the side dropped, but with Neymar missing for the end of the group stage and start of the knockout phase - as he was for the semi-final last summer - Brazil were knocked out on penalties in the last eight by a Paraguay side thrashed 6-1 by Argentina in the next round.

Brazil legend Rivaldo just about summed up the feeling: "I prefer to stay silent and not say anything, but this time I couldn't keep quiet because things are really ugly right now as a country."

Work still to be done, and the depleted domestic league does not help...
Campeonato concerns
Brazil's last two World Cup-winning squads - in 1994 and 2002 - included 11 and 12 players respectively from the country's top flight, the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

Scolari selected just four from the domestic league in 2014, and Dunga went just one better for this summer's Copa America.

Compare this to the last three World Cup winners - Germany, Spain and Italy - who had the bulk, if not all, of their squad playing on home soil.

The Brazilian system is haemorrhaging talent to La Liga, the Premier League, Ukraine, Russia and beyond. Real Madrid's most recent big signing, 23-year-old right-back Danilo, was plucked out of Brazil four years ago by Porto, while Neymar, Lucas Moura, Bernard, Oscar, Paulinho and Lucas Silva are more recent examples of players seeking better opportunities abroad.

Money is the main pull, but despite football remaining Brazil's most ingrained culture, accessibility to the live game is restricted.

The hope that the World Cup would bring a hike in interest in the national league has been realised to an extent; there has been a slight rise to around 16,000 spectators per game on average in the top division, but it is a case of one step forward, one step back.

Ticket prices are still too high for the debt-ridden clubs, and the Campeonato Serie A's average attendance still ranks 14th in the world, below top divisions in Holland, Japan, USA and second tiers in England and Germany.

Brazil must rebuild again from a depleted base on and off the pitch, but some building blocks are posing more problems than solutions...
The £2.5bn leftovers
Despite widespread concerns, the 12 World Cup stadiums, impressive and atmospheric for 32 days last summer, were just about ready in time for the opening game.

Seven new and five renovated, the cost was around £2.5bn, covering all the major regions in Brazil despite FIFA suggesting that just eight venues were necessary. Now, several stadiums are near-abandoned, showing the first signs of decay and, worst of all, struggling to host any football.

Brasilia and Cuiaba are the posters of a failed legacy. The most expensive World Cup venue at $550m, the Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in the capital Brasilia, is now being used as a parking lot for buses, while the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba is a $215m home for squatters, having been shut down for faulty construction.

Over half of the stadiums built for the tournament are suffering financially and, despite six being used for next summer's Olympics, a further 12 months of under-use and empty seats will give the surrounding public a constant reminder of the World Cup's failures off the pitch, worse than any humiliating defeat on it.

Russia's challenge for 2018 is to prevent going to the same way as Brazil, and with an estimated construction cost of $11,500 per seat compared with $6,500 in Brazil, the pressure for sustainability post-tournament is high.

FIFA's profit from Brazil 2014 was a record £1.4bn, but the public profits were restricted to a four-and-a-half week period now fading in the memory.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
World Cup 2014 one year on: A lasting legacy in Brazil?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Just 12 months ago the festival of football that was the 2014 World Cup came to an end. It was a memorable tournament on the pitch, but at what cost to Brazil?

# data[].attributes.body
Offer a range of grants small to large to clubs in need of vital investment to improve Facilities and or equipment. Sports England plummet a large sum of money from the national lottery (250m) to help increase the participation levels in sports.

Have helped out with the 2022 common wealth games. The reason for this is to help build a better community around Birmingham and help encourage the younger audience to participate within sport.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We have a number of open funds for the grassroots sport sector to help people get active - we’ll guide you to the right fund and explain how you can apply.

# data[].attributes.body
People that participate in sport have said that participating in sports helps with their mental health as it reduces their stress, anxiety levels, and their chances of suffering from depression. However, the positives are that it boosts their motivation and increases their confidence.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are various ways that physical activity helps mental health, including:

Improved mood

Studies show that physical activity has a positive impact on our mood. One study asked people to rate their mood after a period of exercise (i.e. walking or gardening) and after inactivity (i.e. reading a book). Researchers found that people felt more awake, calmer and more content after physical activity.

For more information about the study, please see the Mental Health Foundation website.

Reduced stress

Being regularly active is shown to have a beneficial impact on alleviating stress. It can help manage stressful lifestyles and can help us make better decisions when under pressure.

Research on working adults shows that active people tend to have lower stress rates compared to those who are less active.

Increased self-esteem

Physical activity has a big impact on our self-esteem - that's how we feel about ourselves and our perceived self-worth.

This is a key indicator of mental wellbeing. People with improved self-esteem can cope better with stress and improves relationships with others.

Depression and anxiety

Exercise has been described as a "wonder drug" in preventing and managing mental health. Many GPs now prescribe physical activity for depression, either on its own or together with other treatments.

It's effective at both preventing onset of depression and managing symptoms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sport and physical activity has a powerful and positive effect on mental health. That's why we're investing heavily in projects that are changing lives.

# data[].attributes.body
With 80.7 percent of players being people of color, the NBA takes the lead among men's sports for player diversity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
In an Ethnic Breakdown of Sports, NBA Takes Lead for Most Diverse - Global Sport Matters

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the last 20 years, major league sports in North America have seen some surprising and not so surprising changes in the diversity of their athletes.

# data[].attributes.body
Sky wins broadcast rights to show record number of Premier League matches - increasing coverage by 70%

The agreements will deliver a total of £6.7bn in revenue across the four-year period. (news.sky 2023)

# data[].attributes.body
30.6 per cent of adults with a limiting illness or health condition (3.3% as a percentage of all adults) reported that activities were too expensive, while 26.8 per cent of those with a limiting illness or health condition (2.9% as a percentage of all adults) said that transport issues or a lack of disabled parking limited their participation.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ethical sponsorship - (martynfosterwriter 2021)

# data[].attributes.subject
Ethical sponsorship - (martynfosterwriter 2021)

# data[].attributes.body
A lot of sporting company’s did have tobacco company’s as their main sponsor, like on football shirts and in motor racing back in the day when it was socially accepted unlike today. Ronaldo was also seen moving a coke bottle and grabbing water in an interview which led to a $4 billion money loss in sales.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Updated: Jun 16

A general discussion on where do you draw the line on advertising.

An accurate recreation of the Cristiano vs Coca-Cola moment. Photo by Martyn Foster.

There has been a long history of unhealthy and/or tempting products that have been utilised in sponsoring sport, some still with us, others have been removed. Tobacco companies were huge sponsors of many sports, from motor racing to cricket, back when smoking was a socially acceptable practice unlike it is today.

F1 Driver James Hunt smoking and drinking on the podium in his Marlboro race suit. Photo by David Phipps.

I'm not going to lie though, some of the liveries produced from these tobacco sponsors were glorious and are miles better than what we see on racing cars today. People will remember Ayrton Senna and his Marlboro McLaren or John Player Special Lotus (see below pics), but I doubt you'll get the same reaction for a Shell V-Power Ferrari or Petronas Mercedes. There may be some nostalgia element to it, also appealing to the era as well as these aesthetically pleasing designs. However, as much as I miss looking at them, I don't think one could ethically justify them anymore.

With Tobacco out of the way, it is left to banks, beer and betting companies, burger joints and bull-shaped drinks to hold the fort. Now, you could make the case that these too should be phased out due to their ethical questionability for the wider sporting audience and the potential social and health ramifications, but such is the nature of how sport is funded, I doubt we'll see much in the way of their removal let alone reduction anytime soon.

"How much are your ethics worth?"

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR - though not the brand of sugar), a term coined in the 50's by American Economist, Howard Bowen, implores corporations to aim and implement practices and policies with more pro-social objectives and outcomes - to care about the impact their business has on the world and its people. The idea being for companies to want to have a long-term, positive influence and mutually beneficially relationship on the world and communities alike. I'll leave it to you to decide whether companies actually carry this out ethically or just pontificate.

A lot of resources and money are put in by these companies to better understand human behaviour so they can advertise/promote/market more effectively to you, the consumer. Heineken and Coca-Cola would not put forward an annualised amount of $45m and $35m USD respectively to access the audience of UEFA tournaments - such as Euro 2020, uh '21 - if there was not some serious benefit in doing so.

"So, is the power of marketing/advertising that strong that we need to be saved from ourselves? What about the individual's freedom of choice?"

That is the grand question, where does the responsibility lie? The onus is on both to act ethically, but the buck ultimately stops with the individual. However, companies are going to do everything in their power to get you to do what they want you to do. You are already primed before the match to potentially have a few drinks, maybe get some fast-food, have a bit of a flutter (bet) and then you are bombarded with the pre-game, in-game, half-time, end of match repetitive advertising trying to tip you over the edge, so to speak.

You don't have to look too far to see the negative side effects of too much sugar and fat intake, problematic gambling and alcohol. We have significant health and social problems in society surrounding obesity, alcohol-induced violence and anti-social behaviour (particularly domestic violence and mob behaviour), diabetes, heart/blood issues, financial ruin destroying the lives of people and their families as well as suicide. And all these concerns can be linked back to the products or services provided by a number of the sponsors in sport.

Now, I'm not trying to come across "holier-than-thou", an attitude which is counterproductive in my opinion. I'm not running around screaming "think of the children!" (though to some extent we should), but you have to ask what sort of message/s do you want associated with your professional sporting codes where the men and women of elite health, fitness and strength perform? And what positive, good and healthy appraisal do we want to associate with the sponsored products or services?

It's not about never having a beer while watching a match, just not 10, but perhaps not showing us one every two minutes might help that...

A general discussion on where do you draw the line on advertising.

An accurate recreation of the Cristiano vs Coca-Cola moment. Photo by Martyn Foster.

There has been a long history of unhealthy and/or tempting products that have been utilised in sponsoring sport, some still with us, others have been removed. Tobacco companies were huge sponsors of many sports, from motor racing to cricket, back when smoking was a socially acceptable practice unlike it is today.

F1 Driver James Hunt smoking and drinking on the podium in his Marlboro race suit. Photo by David Phipps.

I'm not going to lie though, some of the liveries produced from these tobacco sponsors were glorious and are miles better than what we see on racing cars today. People will remember Ayrton Senna and his Marlboro McLaren or John Player Special Lotus (see below pics), but I doubt you'll get the same reaction for a Shell V-Power Ferrari or Petronas Mercedes. There may be some nostalgia element to it, also appealing to the era as well as these aesthetically pleasing designs. However, as much as I miss looking at them, I don't think one could ethically justify them anymore.

With Tobacco out of the way, it is left to banks, beer and betting companies, burger joints and bull-shaped drinks to hold the fort. Now, you could make the case that these too should be phased out due to their ethical questionability for the wider sporting audience and the potential social and health ramifications, but such is the nature of how sport is funded, I doubt we'll see much in the way of their removal let alone reduction anytime soon.

"How much are your ethics worth?"

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR - though not the brand of sugar), a term coined in the 50's by American Economist, Howard Bowen, implores corporations to aim and implement practices and policies with more pro-social objectives and outcomes - to care about the impact their business has on the world and its people. The idea being for companies to want to have a long-term, positive influence and mutually beneficially relationship on the world and communities alike. I'll leave it to you to decide whether companies actually carry this out ethically or just pontificate.

A lot of resources and money are put in by these companies to better understand human behaviour so they can advertise/promote/market more effectively to you, the consumer. Heineken and Coca-Cola would not put forward an annualised amount of $45m and $35m USD respectively to access the audience of UEFA tournaments - such as Euro 2020, uh '21 - if there was not some serious benefit in doing so.

"So, is the power of marketing/advertising that strong that we need to be saved from ourselves? What about the individual's freedom of choice?"

That is the grand question, where does the responsibility lie? The onus is on both to act ethically, but the buck ultimately stops with the individual. However, companies are going to do everything in their power to get you to do what they want you to do. You are already primed before the match to potentially have a few drinks, maybe get some fast-food, have a bit of a flutter (bet) and then you are bombarded with the pre-game, in-game, half-time, end of match repetitive advertising trying to tip you over the edge, so to speak.

You don't have to look too far to see the negative side effects of too much sugar and fat intake, problematic gambling and alcohol. We have significant health and social problems in society surrounding obesity, alcohol-induced violence and anti-social behaviour (particularly domestic violence and mob behaviour), diabetes, heart/blood issues, financial ruin destroying the lives of people and their families as well as suicide. And all these concerns can be linked back to the products or services provided by a number of the sponsors in sport.

Now, I'm not trying to come across "holier-than-thou", an attitude which is counterproductive in my opinion. I'm not running around screaming "think of the children!" (though to some extent we should), but you have to ask what sort of message/s do you want associated with your professional sporting codes where the men and women of elite health, fitness and strength perform? And what positive, good and healthy appraisal do we want to associate with the sponsored products or services?

It's not about never having a beer while watching a match, just not 10, but perhaps not showing us one every two minutes might help that...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A general discussion on where do you draw the line. A friend of mine recently sent me an article on the topic which has come back into the public spotlight after the Cristiano Ronaldo vs two bottles of Coca-Cola incident at the Euros.

# data[].attributes.body
because they are increasing their capacity because they have gone up a league, means that more people come to watch. which then can lead to increase in participation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Chief executive, Gary Sweet, said the club was developing the design detail and "in particular, work hard to capture the core characteristics that makes Kenilworth Road so atmospheric, so intimate and so special to us".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Luton Town: Club reveals new stadium pictures and plans

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ahead of their Wembley trip, Luton Town says the target for completion of their new stadium is 2026.

# data[].attributes.body
Performers need to have a good perception of these stimuli to adapt their skills to best suit the environment. The two different characteristics of the environmental continuum are 'closed' and 'open'. Closed skills are skills that are not affected by the environment. They are usually self-paced and occur in fixed or predictable situations. The performer uses exactly the same technique every time and is in control of what happens next. An example would be a gymnast performing a floor routine. Open skills are skills affected by the environment. They are mainly perceptual and usually externally paced. They occur when performers have to make decisions and adapt their skills to a changing or unpredictable environment. The performer is not in control of what will happen next. An example would be making a pass in Ultimate Frisbee.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zy7wmnb/revision/3

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Environmental continuum in sport - Classification of skill in sport - OCR - GCSE Physical Education Revision - OCR - BBC Bitesize

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn about and revise classification of skill with this BBC Bitesize GCSE PE (OCR) study guide.

# data[].attributes.body
Sport Education is a curriculum and instruction model designed for delivery within physical education. Modifications can be made to suit each age category, activity or setting. It is most effective with games based activities and with participants who have a good base level of competence.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Introduction

Sport Education is a curriculum and instruction model designed for delivery within physical education. Modifications can be made to suit each age category, activity or setting. It is most effective with games based activities and with participants who have a good base level of competence.

It is intended to provide children and youth with more authentic and enjoyable sport experiences than what we typically see in traditional physical education lessons. This model was developed and introduced by Daryl Siedentop in 1984 and has since be adapted and successfully implemented across physical education programs nationally and internationally. Students participate as members of teams in seasons that are longer than the usual physical education unit (normally longer than six weeks). They take an active role in their own sport and physical activity experience by serving in varied and realistic roles that are evident in authentic sport settings such as captains, coaches, trainers, statisticians, officials, publicists, and members of a sports council. Teams develop camaraderie through team uniforms, names, and develop strong affiliations with their teams as they work together to learn and develop their skills and tactical play.

Goals

There are three major goals that guide program development in Sport Education. These serve as a guide to ensure students to become competent, literate, and enthusiastic players (Siedentop, 1994). This means that teachers must design learning experiences that facilitate students learning (not just supervised matches). According to Siedentop (1994);

A competent player has sufficient skills to participate satisfactorily, can execute strategies that are appropriate for the complexity of the game being played, and is a knowledgeable player.

A literate player understands and values the rules, rituals, and traditions of sport, and is able to distinguish between good and bad sport practices in a variety of sport settings.

An enthusiastic player is one who preserves, protects, and enhances the sport culture through participation, involvement, and appropriate behaviour

Objectives

In order to achieve these goals, students need to develop a set of objectives which Siedentop (1994) has identified as the following ten items.

1. Develop skills and fitness specific to particular sports.

2. Appreciate and be able to execute strategic play in sports.

3. Participate at a level appropriate to their stage of development.

4. Share in the planning and administration of sport experiences.

5. Provide responsible leadership.

6. Work effectively within a group toward common goals.

7. Appreciate the rituals and conventions that give particular sports their unique meanings.

8. Develop the capacity to make reasoned decisions about sport issues.

9. Develop and apply knowledge about umpiring, refereeing, and training.

10. Decide voluntarily to become involved in after-school sport.

Features

What makes sport education unique and different from other types of physical activity and physical education instruction?

Seasons
The sport or physical activity is played in seasons

Affiliation
Students participate as members of a team

Formal Competition
A schedule of competition is built into a season amidst practice sessions

Culminating Event
Sport recognises individual and team performance through a concluding event

Keeping Records
Records of individual and team performance provide feedback to students and encourage goal setting for improvement

Festivity
Sport is exciting and meaningful to participants and should be reflected in a sport season

Seasons & Formal Competitions

In the sport education model sports are played in "seasons" rather than units. Using the term season makes the physical education experience more true to being part of an authentic sport season. Just as in authentic sport games are played throughout the season with a concluding culminating event.

Usually the first question students have when coming to physical education is, "Do we get to play today?" The idea of games throughout a season is appealing to students because it offers frequent opportunities to play. In a sport education season students participate as a team in skill practice and games; all building team unity. Using instructional models such as Game Sense or Teaching Games for Understanding (TGFU) can also be incorporated into a sport education season to allow a game form to be played every day. This game form allows teams to practice specific skills while being involved in team play at the same time.

Affiliation

A major part of the sport education model is the idea of students becoming members of a team. At the beginning of a sport season students are put in to teams with which they both practice and compete for the duration of the season. This close time spent together creates team pride and spirit. Team aspects of sport that are part of the sport education model add to this feeling of pride and the festivity that sport holds. There are many different ways in which team affiliation can be built during a season. The following are a few ideas of things that can be incorporated to give students a sense of belonging while building team spirit and affiliation:

· team names - countries, animals, food, etc.
· team posters, crests, banners, and flags
· team chants or cheers
· team uniforms
· team mascots
· team pictures
· individual team warm-ups; team practice courts
· team awards

Culminating Event

In most organised sports the season is ended by a culminating competition. Using culminating events in physical education helps build team affiliation. This aspect of festivity is sometimes lacking in the traditional physical education class. However, in sport education each season ends with a culminating event. This might be a three vs. three volleyball tournament, a round-robin, or a dance recital. Festivity is the emphasis in the culminating event. The culminating event is the climax of the season and should draw in all students to participate.

The festivity coordinator could be a role that you would place in charge of making the culminating event festive. Some of his/her responsibilities might include:

· Creating awards for the end of the event (most improved, MVP, best sportsperson)

· Creating a bracket poster
· Creating team posters
· Using old trophies to recreate awards with team pictures on them
· Display records or statistics on a display board
· Write and publish a season newsletter

Keeping Records

In most sports numerous records are kept throughout the season. Records of both individual and team performance are kept in order to provide feedback to players and add to the tradition of sport. This same aspect of sport is transferred in to the physical education setting through the sport education model. Records provide feedback for students and teams and encourage goal setting for improvement. The roles and responsibilities that are set up through the model allow for easy opportunities to incorporate the keeping of records during practice and games if individual and team performance. For instance, statistics can be taken by a teams statistician and can even be taught by the statistician to the rest of his or her teammates. Records, such as the statistician's statistics, could also be used by a coach to design a practice specifically addressing a team's needs. Publicists may also use stats and other team information to create articles, newsletters, or awards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sport Education is a curriculum and instruction model designed for physical education. This blog explains the features of sport education in more detail.

# data[].attributes.body
Sport and physical activity can help prevent ill health as well as provide therapeutic and management effects for those suffering - particularly for people affected by cancer. It can also lead to improvements in strength, balance, movement and motor skills, and help in maintaining a healthy body weight.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We want to encourage people to get active in ways that deliver the most for their physical wellbeing.

We know that being physically active can give a huge boost to our health.

It can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30-40% and can reduce the risk of a range of medical conditions, including cancer, dementia, strokes, heart disease and depression.

Sport and physical activity can help prevent ill health as well as provide therapeutic and management effects for those suffering - particularly for people affected by cancer.

It can also lead to improvements in strength, balance, movement and motor skills, and help in maintaining a healthy body weight.

Other physical wellbeing outcomes backed by evidence include improved quality of sleep, increased energy levels, healthy early years development, reduced unhealthy behaviours like smoking, reduced mortality, effective pain management and improved quality of life in ageing.

How we measure it

The industry standard for measuring the effectiveness of physical wellbeing is the percentage of people meeting the UK's Chief Medical Officer's physical activity guidelines and the percentage doing less than 30 minutes physical activity each week.

To help measure the impact of sport and activity on physical wellbeing, we'll use our Active Lives Adult Survey.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We want to encourage people to get active in ways that deliver the most for their physical wellbeing.

# data[].attributes.body
Kids playing in a team helps develop social skills which can be taken forward into life. Life lessons can also be learntt. It teaches them to cooperate, communicate, be less selfish. It also helps kids feel a sense of belonging. This will help them understand how to be social and act around other children and in public. It also improves their mental health, feeling more confident in social situations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Key facts

Organised sport has many physical, developmental, psychological and social benefits for children.

Playing sport helps children learn to control their emotions and channel negative feelings in a positive way.

Playing sport helps children build resilience and feel better about themselves.

Parents play a key role in developing a child's life skills through participating in sport.

To keep your child interested and enjoying sport, make it a positive experience for them. Keep the focus on having fun and being active, rather than on winning.

Organised sport has many psychological and social benefits for children - even more than the physical activity during play. Researchers think this is because children benefit from the social side of being in a team, and from the involvement of other children and adults.

What life skills are associated with sport?

Sport isn't just a good way to keep children's bodies healthy, but it also has psychological benefits and teaches them important life skills too.

Organised sport has many psychological and social benefits for children - even more than the physical activity during play. Researchers think this is because children benefit from the social aspects of being in a team, and from the involvement of other children and adults.

How will my child's development benefit from sport?

The benefits of participating in sport go beyond learning new physical skills. Sport helps children develop better ways to cope with the highs and lows of life. When they're playing sport, sometimes they will win, while at other times they will lose. Being a good loser takes maturity and practice. Losing teaches children to overcome disappointment, cope with unpleasant experiences and is an important part of becoming resilient.

Playing sport helps children learn to control their emotions and channel negative feelings in a healthy way. It also helps children develop patience and understand that it can take a lot of practice to improve their skills. Children can then apply skills like perseverance and resilience in other areas of their life, including in the classroom at school and with other non-sporting hobbies.

What are the social benefits of participating in team sports?

Playing in a team helps children develop many of the social skills they will need throughout life. It teaches them to cooperate, be less selfish, and to listen to other children.

It also gives children a sense of belonging. It helps them make new friends and builds their social circle outside school.

An important part of playing in a team is accepting discipline. Playing sport means children are expected to follow rules, accept decisions and understand that they could be penalised for bad behaviour. It teaches them to take directions from the coach, referees and other adults. Sport also teaches them about teamwork.

Are there other benefits to participating in sport?

Physical activity has been shown to stimulate brain chemicals (called neurotransmitters) that make you feel better. Playing sport regularly improves children's overall emotional wellbeing.

Research shows a link between playing sport and self-esteem in children. The support of the team, a kind word from a coach, or achieving their personal best will all help children feel more confident.

What role do parents play in children's sports?

To keep your child interested and enjoying sport, try to make it a positive experience for them. Focus on having fun, giving it a try and being active, rather than winning or losing.

You can help your child develop a positive sporting attitude by praising the team's or other children's efforts, even if they don't win. Point out to your child how important it is to try and do their best.

Make sure comments from the sidelines are positive, and don't criticise children who make mistakes. Never abuse a team, umpire or other player.

Visit the Play by the Rules website for tips for parents on creating a positive sporting environment for your child.

Resources and support

The Play by the Rules website also has many resources to promote awareness of poor sideline behaviour. These resources are part of Let Kids be Kids, a national campaign that addresses poor sideline behaviour in junior sport.

You can also visit the Raising Children Network website to learn more about children and sports in Australia.

Developmental benefits

Development from sport goes beyond learning new physical skills. Sport helps children develop better ways to cope with the highs and lows of life.

When they're playing sport, children learn to lose. Being a good loser takes maturity and practice. Losing teaches children to bounce back from disappointment, cope with unpleasant experiences and is an important part of becoming resilient.

Playing sport helps children learn to control their emotions and channel negative feelings in a positive way. It also helps children to develop patience and understand that it can take a lot of practice to improve both their physical skills and what they do in school.

Emotional benefits

Physical activity has been shown to stimulate chemicals in the brain that make you feel better. So playing sport regularly improves children's overall emotional wellbeing.

Research shows there's a link between playing sport and self-esteem in children. The support of the team, a kind word from a coach, or achieving their personal best will all help children to feel better about themselves.

Social benefits

Playing in a team helps children to develop many of the social skills they will need for life. It teaches them to cooperate, to be less selfish, and to listen to other children.

It also gives children a sense of belonging. It helps them make new friends and builds their social circle outside school.

An important part of playing in a team is accepting discipline. Playing sport means children are expected to follow rules, accept decisions and understand that they could be penalised for bad behaviour. It teaches them to take directions from the coach, referees and other adults. Sport also teaches them about team work.

Parents play an important role in sports

To keep your child interested and enjoying sport, make it a positive experience for them. Focus on having fun, having a go and being active, rather than winning or losing.

You can help your child develop a positive sporting attitude by praising the team's or other children's efforts, even if they don't win. Point out to your child how important it is to try and do their best.

Make sure your comments from the sidelines are positive, and don't criticise children who make mistakes. Never abuse a team, umpire or other player.

Visit the Play by the Rules website for tips on creating a positive sporting environment for your child.

More information

The Play by the Rules website also has a suite of resources to promote awareness of poor sideline behaviour. These resources are part of Let Kids be Kids, a national campaign that addresses poor sideline behaviour in junior sport.

You can also visit the Raising Children Network website to learn more about children and sports in Australia.

Last reviewed: June 2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sport isn't just good for children's bodies. Sport has psychological benefits for children and adolescents, and teaches them important life skills.

# data[].attributes.body
Sports tourism is growing massively generating around 10% of the worlds expenditure of tourism. By having all these sporting events on like the men’s World Cup helps to create better income for countries. As well as this tourism helps with infrastructure development and other social and economic benefits.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What it is: Sports tourism is a type of tourism activity which refers to the travel experience of the tourist who either observes as a spectator or actively participates in a sporting event generally involving commercial and non-commercial activities of a competitive nature.

Why it Matters: Sports tourism is a fundamental axis, generating around 10% of the world's expenditure on tourism. It has an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023-2030, moving masses intra and intercontinentally. Sports tourism can promote social, economic and environmental action, it accelerates development and can leave a long-lasting positive legacy.

Sports and Tourism are interrelated and complementary. Today, sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences. Mega sport events such as the Olympics and World Cups can be a catalyst for tourism development if successfully leveraged in terms of destination branding, infrastructure development and other economic and social benefits.

Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences. Mega sport events such as Olympics and World Cups can be a catalyst for tourism development if successfully leveraged in terms of destination branding, infrastructure development and other economic and social benefits.

Sports Tourism Events

UPCOMING SPORTS TOURISM EVENTS

UNWTO PUBLICATIONS ON SPORTS TOURISM

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences.

# data[].attributes.body
As well as developing individuals, sport and physical activity can help build stronger communities by bringing people together.

Sport is widely seen as a way for people of different backgrounds to interact and integrate by taking part, volunteering and spectating.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social and community development | Sport England

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sport and physical activity can help build stronger communities by bringing people together - that's the principle of social and community development.

# data[].attributes.body
being apart of a sport team can help with qualities that can make you more employable. for example, team work, handling pressure, commitment and time management. as well as this, in 2022, the number of people employed in sport increased significanlty, with around 150,000 more employees than in 2021 raising the proportion of people employed in sport in total employment figures to 0.8%. this increase can be seen in the context of the recovery from the covid 19 crisis (ec.europa 2023)

# data[].attributes.body
The World Cup in Qatar had a positive effect on tourism. The number of visitors so far in 2023 happened to be a 157% increase over the same period last year.

Qatar’s tourism launched several campaigns and initiatives aimed at boosting Qatar’s tourism sector and raising global awareness on Qatar’s expanded hospitality offering.

As of August 2023 the country welcomed more than 2.56 million visitors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As of 25 August 2023, Qatar has welcomed over 2.56 million visitors, exceeding the full year arrival figures witnessed in 2022. The number of visitors so far in 2023 mark a 157% increase over the same period last year.

The latest achievement bears testimony on Qatar's rising global position as a leading tourism destination, a status influenced by the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which placed Qatar on the international tourism map.

Qatar's tourism sector has also been boosted by the extension of Hayya for existing card holders and the relaunch of the Hayya platform, which is now the go-to portal for travellers who require a visa to enter Qatar. Visitors to Qatar hail from around the world, with countries in the top 10 being Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, USA, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, UK, UAE, and Pakistan.

Reflecting on the growth of visitor arrivals to Qatar, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: "The growth in the number of international visitors to Qatar shows the fruit of Qatar Tourism's strategy to leverage the momentum of the world's biggest sporting event late last year. By focusing on our priority markets and through a multi-pronged approach which sees strong efforts and initiatives across our strategic pillars, we have been able to welcome visitors from all corners of the globe and showcase Qatar's seamless blend of modernity and cultural authenticity."

Over the past months, Qatar Tourism has launched several campaigns and initiatives aimed at boosting Qatar's tourism sector and raising global awareness on Qatar's expanded hospitality offering. Immediately after the FIFA World Cup TM, Qatar Tourism launched its 'Feel More in Qatar' global campaign which positions Qatar as the Middle East's top choice for the well-travelled tourist, focusing on families. The brand platform saw seasonal iterations throughout 2023, with 'Feel Winter in Qatar,' 'Feel Eid in Qatar' and other campaigns targeting various world-wide audiences with travel offers and seasonal activations.

In addition, Qatar Tourism has delved into its business tourism segment, showcasing the country's premium assets which include its national airline, award-winning airport, brand-new transportation system and suite of conference venues at regional and international travel fairs. Growing its track record of hosting major events and conferences, Qatar has so far this year held the 9 th Annual Destination Planners Congress -- the world's biggest B2B event for destination weddings, the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition - the only B2B and B2C event of its kind in the region, and the UFI MEA Regional Conference - the Middle East's largest gathering of senior business event professionals, to name a few.

The growth in visitor numbers is also owing to heightened focus on Qatar's cruise tourism. The country's newly renovated port is strategically located in the heart of Doha, allowing visitors to make the most out of their short stay in the city. In the 2022/23 cruise season (end of April close), Qatar Tourism welcomed international ships such as Costa Toscana, AIDAcosma, and Emerald Azzura for the very first time, while MSC Cruises & Costa Cruises offered 7-night itineraries around the Gulf, also for the first time. ​In 2022, Qatar inaugurated the state-of-the-art Grand Cruise Terminal which features classic Arabian architecture and is conveniently situated near famous landmarks such as the National Museum of Qatar and Souq Waqif. ​

Since the start of the year, Qatar Tourism has presented an ongoing calendar of world-class events, from the Qatar GKA Freestyle Kite World Cup 2023 for kitesurfing enthusiasts to Disney-on-Ice for the littlest travellers.

More events are coming up in this year's Arab Tourism Capital, with the Geneva International Motor Show - Qatar, Formula 1 and Expo 2023 slated for October, and which will be followed by the MotoGP in November.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Positive Legacy of FIFA World Cup™ Boosts Qatar's Tourism Sector, with 157% Surge in Year-on-Year Visitor Numbers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As of 25 August 2023, Qatar has welcomed over 2.56 million visitors, exceeding the full year arrival figures witnessed in 2022. The number of visitors so far in 2023 mark a 157% increase over the same period last year.

# data[].attributes.body
15.1 percent of the surveyed people in the age group of 45 to 54 years attended at least two live sports events in the last year

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The statistic displays the share of people who have attended at least two live sports events in the last year in England from May 2020 to May 2021, by age. It was found that 15.1 percent of the surveyed people in the age group of 45 to 54 years attended at least two live sports events in the last year. More information about sports in England can be found in the Dossier: Sport in England - Public funding and participation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Live sports spectators by age 2021 | Statista

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The statistic displays the share of people who have attended at least two live sports events in the last year in England from May 2020 to May 2021, by age.

# data[].attributes.body
Why sport?

The power of sport if used appropriately can offer an alternative means of excitement and risk taking to that gained through engaging in offending behaviour. Another advantage of using the power of sport is the access to an increasing alternative social network and wide range of positive social role models.

The National Alliance of Sport for the Desistance of Crime will support a range of stakeholder’s ranging from the private, public, voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and will champion the power of sport as a tool for the prevention and the desistance from crime.

What is desistance?

“Desistance is about more than criminal justice. Desistance requires engagement with families, communities, civil society and the state itself. All of these parties must be involved if rehabilitation in all of its forms (judicial, social, psychological and moral) is to be possible”. How and why people stop offending: Discovering desistance.

Find out more about desistance and its meaning: Iriss Insights No 15.

What are we doing?

We facilitate a number of Positive Action Groups that convene a wide range of experts and explore the role of sport in tackling some of societies most complex issues. The groups are committed to action, as such a number of projects, events, symposiums and evaluation projects are in various stages of development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Please Login to view this content. (Not a member? Join Today!)

# data[].attributes.body
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics is deemed to be a success of economic regeneration.. This helped the community with new transport access, more offices, and more hotels/accommodation for tourists.

# data[].attributes.body
Sport and physical activity are being used to try and help tackle serious violence and knife crime this summer. More than 3,000 young people will be given places on sport and activity programmes to help keep them away from possible violence and crime.As part of the initiative, announced today by Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Wright, sport England are awarding 49 projects in London, the north west, west midlands and Yorkshire, a total of £400,000 in National Lottery funding. This means that 3,242 young people able to benefit from 49 projects receiving £400,000 of National Lottery funding from sport England.

https://www.sportengland.org/news/programme-to-help-tackle-serious-violence-and-knife-crime-using-sport

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
These sessions, like many of the others receiving funding this summer, aim to give young people a positive activity to take part in at a time with they could be drawn into violence.

All the funded projects, who work with young people aged 10 to 21, will receive partner packs with promotional materials from the Home Office's #knifefree campaign.

"Sport is a powerful tool that can play an important role in turning young people away from crime and violence," said Jeremy.

"This scheme will reach thousands of young people in the most at-risk areas and give them coaching, skills, and opportunities to thrive.

"I am confident that this programme will deliver real change and have a lasting impact on the participants and their communities."

The scheme aims to increase awareness of positive alternatives to knife crime and work towards changing the false perception that carrying a knife is widespread and makes you safer.

Other sporting bodies are also showing their commitment to supporting young people in serious violence hotspots, with the Premier League expanding their flagship Premier League Kicks community programme.

At the end of the summer, the Government will evaluate the programme in order to develop a long-term strategy to improve their offer across several different support stages for young people, including early intervention, custodial support and probation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sport being used to tackle knife crime | Sport England

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We're giving £400,000 to fund 49 projects aimed at young people at risk of being involved in serious violence

# data[].attributes.body
£400,000 is being put into 49 different projects aimed at reducing risk of children being involved with serious violence.

In total more than 3,240 children will be affected by this programme. Activities can include midnight bascketball sessions, aswell as 12-14 week sporting activity courses. The aim is to increase awareness to children about the severity of knife crime and crime in general to keep them off the streets, and have a positive life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
These sessions, like many of the others receiving funding this summer, aim to give young people a positive activity to take part in at a time with they could be drawn into violence.

All the funded projects, who work with young people aged 10 to 21, will receive partner packs with promotional materials from the Home Office's #knifefree campaign.

"Sport is a powerful tool that can play an important role in turning young people away from crime and violence," said Jeremy.

"This scheme will reach thousands of young people in the most at-risk areas and give them coaching, skills, and opportunities to thrive.

"I am confident that this programme will deliver real change and have a lasting impact on the participants and their communities."

The scheme aims to increase awareness of positive alternatives to knife crime and work towards changing the false perception that carrying a knife is widespread and makes you safer.

Other sporting bodies are also showing their commitment to supporting young people in serious violence hotspots, with the Premier League expanding their flagship Premier League Kicks community programme.

At the end of the summer, the Government will evaluate the programme in order to develop a long-term strategy to improve their offer across several different support stages for young people, including early intervention, custodial support and probation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sport being used to tackle knife crime | Sport England

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We're giving £400,000 to fund 49 projects aimed at young people at risk of being involved in serious violence

# data[].attributes.headline
Equality and diversity - Sport England (sport England 2018)

# data[].attributes.subject
Equality and diversity - Sport England (sport England 2018)

# data[].attributes.body
Company’s are looking to get more people of different ethnicities and ages to be more involved within sport. Also look to include more people with disabilities to get involved with sport, and including more sports in the paralympics etc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As an employer, we actively seek to ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve, recognising that this makes us better able to understand their needs and priorities.

We can only do this by ensuring that the people who work for us are the best they can be irrespective of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, marital status, religion or belief.

As part of this, we're proud signatories of the Race at Work Charter, committing to improving racial equality in the workplace against the five charter principles.

What matters to us is that we have talented, enthusiastic and experienced professionals working with us who can help deliver our strategic outcomes.

You don't have to be sporty to work at Sport England. We value the ideas and contributions from everybody and welcome and support difference.

Our aim is to make sure that equality, diversity and inclusion run through everything we do as an employer.

As such, and in light of the discussion around race and the global Black Lives Matter movement that led to protests during the summer of 2020, we're focusing work in four areas to ensure this happens.

We hope these areas of focus will lead us to achieving our four broad ambitions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As an employer, we actively seek to ensure that our workforce reflects the communities we serve, recognising that this makes us better able to understand their needs and priorities. We can only do this by ensuring that the people who work for us are the best they can be irrespective of age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, marital status, religion or belief.

# data[].attributes.body
In 2022, 1.5 million people in the EU were hired in sport with 54.6% being men and 45.4% being women. The majority of people employed in sport belonged to the age group 30-64 years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An analysis of the trends in employment in sport over the last few years is presented, with its contribution to total employment, and some of its characteristics at EU and country level.

# data[].attributes.body
investment of around £1 billion pounds and 5,000 new homes in Birmingham due to the common wealth games.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are new cycle routes, bus lanes, train stations - and a whopping 5,000 new homes

Birmingham has, at long last, awoken from its slumber. Often dismissed and long ridiculed, the UK 's second city - and proud 2022 Commonwealth Games host city - has splashed its squares in colour, wrapped its buildings in branding and left its people quietly optimistic.

Truth is, there are umpteen reasons for Brum to be proud. Its diverse cultural offering will be seen by an estimated one billion viewers at its opening ceremony tonight, with local legends Duran Duran and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi among the performers, while its official song harks back to Birmingham's rich heritage: 'It's a Brum Ting' by Friendly Fire Band is a catchy reggae love letter to the city.

' Birmingham is a brilliant city, with a young, diverse and talented population, a world-class food scene, a thriving cultural sector, and of course an array of brilliant sporting teams and venues,' said Ian Ward, the leader of Birmingham city council.

'For too long Birmingham has been shy about itself,' he continued. 'Thanks to the investment over recent decades, and of course the £1 billion that has come into the city through the Games, Birmingham is now looking like a global city. Our "Be Bold Be Birmingham"branding ensures the city is dressed to host the Games, with colourful additions across the city.'

Birmingham has indeed undergone somewhat of a vibrant transformation. Stroll through the city centre and it's impossible to avoid larger-than-life building wraps featuring Perry - the 2022 Games mascot named after Perry Barr, home of the city's athletics stadium - or its rainbow-themed splash adorned over landmarks like Victoria Square and the Town Hall.

It's the legacy of the Games that everybody will talk about though, and while Smethwick will enjoy a brand-new swimming pool and leisure centre for years to come, and the future of the city-centre Smithfield site is currently up for consultation, Birmingham is banking on a legacy that benefits its citizens much further than that.

'I have always been clear that the Commonwealth Games are about far more than 11 days of sport. When the Games are over, and the flags have come down, we will be left with a superb legacy,' Ward said.

'We have improved rail facilities, including the newly renovated Perry Barr Station, improved bus connectivity, a plan to build 5,000 new homes in Perry Barr, and thousands of jobs created in our city,' he added.

When the Games are over, and the flags have come down, we will be left with a superb legacy

'We published our ambitious Birmingham Transport Plan last year which sets out our vision of a city where our residents can move around quickly, safely and affordably, in line with our vision to be a carbon-neutral city by 2030. We will work to eliminate road danger, connect people with new job and training opportunities, and reconnect communities by prioritising people over cars. The Games will help to demonstrate that we can build a city around public transport.'

Transport is hot on the agenda then, and rightly so in a city with more than 1.2 million residents. But is Birmingham prepared for an event which will welcome visitors from across the world - and with net zero and public transport as the focus?

'From an infrastructure perspective the city has done an impressive job pulling everything together given the short amount of time it had to do so, as well as the significant complication of a pandemic,' said city transport planner Jordan Quinlan.

'There have of course been some changes as a result,' he added. 'The athletes' village will never house athletes, with them instead calling university campuses home for the next fortnight. But the bus lanes, new cycle route and stations at Perry Barr and University will be operational, if a little utilitarian. The venues are ready and with the recent announcement that WM Cycle Hire bikes will be available for two 30-minute free trips a day during the Games, it seems that the city is prepared.'

Birmingham has indeed done well to prepare for the global stage with much less time than previous host cities. Awarded the Games in 2017, Brum has been blighted by two years of Covid and the rapid rise of material costs, and Quinlan thinks this is behind some of the mistakes made in the run-up to the Games - however necessary they may be.

'The location of the megastore [is] the most obvious,' Quinlan said. 'Centenary Square is a hugely successful public space with the reflecting pool and fountains popular with families and children in the summer, so the decision to plonk a big shed over 90 percent of it rather than derelict land behind it is completely mad. It must have been driven by cost.'

'It's also a shame that a number of road closures implemented last year to create spill-out space for bars and restaurants have not been repeated, despite their widely reported success,' he continued. 'Hurst Street will remain open to traffic despite it being the main walking route to Smithfield, and the Colmore Row/Waterloo Street loop, which hosted outdoor seating for a number of venues, has been re-tarmacked for traffic.'

Despite minor misjudgments, Birmingham is sure to reap the rewards of a hugely successful event. For this much-maligned region to host a sporting event of such prowess should be celebrated, and its legacy will only benefit its residents in future decades.

The quality of the homes is testament to what a council can do when it's adequately funded

'The only way to change habits is to encourage people to try new things, like public transport, and discover that they're more convenient, reliable, pleasant and cheaper than their present option,' Quinlan said.

'Perry Barr's new housing development is a high-quality, gently densified new community that prioritises public transport and active travel,' he continued. 'It has excellent transport links, a good variety of housing typologies from apartments to townhouses, and publicly accessible green space all delivered by a public-private partnership led by the council.'

'The quality of the homes there surpasses many of the private developments we're seeing in the city centre and it's a testament to just what the council can do when adequately funded.'

Birmingham 2022 takes place between July 28-August 8. To book tickets and find out more, visit theofficial website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Birmingham has transformed for the Commonwealth Games

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are new cycle routes, bus lanes, train stations - and a whopping 5,000 new homes.

# data[].attributes.body
In 2022, the total attendance of professional sporting events in the United Kingdom reached a new peak of 76.2 million, an increase of over 40 million on the previous year.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2022, the total attendance of professional sporting events in the United Kingdom reached a new peak of 76.2 million, an increase of over 40 million on the previous year. This is likely down to the lifting of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, as well as major sporting events taking place in the country such as the UEFA Women's EURO.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Total attendance at professional sports events UK 2022 | Statista

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2022, the total attendance of professional sporting events in the United Kingdom reached a new peak of 76.2 million, an increase of over 40 million on the previous year.

# data[].attributes.body
Forest Green Rovers won Elite Organisation of the Year in the BBC Green Sport Awards. In 2018 became United Nations first Carbon Neutral Club - vegan, recycle all rainwater and utilise solar power maintaining their organic pitch. Players are given electric cars with charging points at the ground.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins and British athlete Innes FitzGerald are among the winners of this year's BBC Green Sport awards.

Now in their second year, the awards celebrate the athletes, former athletes and organisations working hard to enact and inspire change.

The ceremony will take place on Monday, 2 October at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, London - and you can follow it live on the BBC Sport website and app.

Here are the 2023 winners:

Athlete of the Year
Why did he win?
Australia's men's Test and one-day international captain, Cummins has taken an active leadership role on climate change. A nominee in last year's inaugural awards, the 30-year-old's work includes public advocacy, but also mobilising networks and resources for significant outcomes through his Cricket for Climate Foundation. Through the foundation, Cummins has helped a number of projects in the past 12 months that have had a positive impact from organisational level down to clubs.
What did he say?
"I'm hugely honoured to accept the BBC's Green Sport award for Athlete of the Year. I'm really proud of what we've been able to achieve here in Australia and hopefully we have more to come. I feel like there is hope, because there are a lot of solutions to move away from fossil fuels, or moving towards more renewable sources. To be able to show that we've made a small difference, we've made some good actions. That makes me really proud."
What did the nominations committee say?
"Pat's leadership on climate has been hugely instrumental in cricket and across Australian society. The authenticity and integrity he brings to his climate work has a profound resonance in Australia."

Young Athlete of the Year

Winner: Innes FitzGerald
Why did she win?
The English Schools cross-country champion, FitzGerald made the bold choice to decline the chance to compete in this year's World Championships in Australia. In a letter to British Athletics, the 17-year-old said her decision was based on her concern about the impact of flying at a time when people around the world are suffering the effects of climate change. She uses her platform to encourage other athletes to question their choices, use their platforms to raise awareness, and actively engage in conversations about climate issues.
What did she say?
"It's a real privilege to be receiving this award. I never set out to achieve awards from this. I just wanted to raise awareness about climate-related issues within the athletics and sporting world and try to get up-and-coming athletes to think about what they're doing and their impacts on the climate. It's really empowering when you get messages from other people saying 'I'm really grateful for what you've done' or 'I'm now changing this in my life'. It gives me confidence that what I'm doing is making a difference."
What did the nominations committee say?
"Innes consistently puts her principles at the heart of every decision in her young running career, with her climate awareness being fundamental. She puts herself at considerable risk in terms of criticism and knows sport is important, but so too is a sustainable future for sport and society. For someone who is only 17, it is astounding. She is an example to all athletes everywhere."

Evergreen Athlete Award

Winner: Chris Dickerson
Why did he win?
Former Major League Baseball player Dickerson is recognised for taking the initiative to try to make positive change before many had even realised the power sport could have. In 2008, Dickerson and fellow baseball player Jack Cassel formed the Players for the Planet foundation, which has brought together professional athletes to help build awareness of the environmental crisis. Dickerson, 41, has been involved in numerous environmental projects, regularly speaks at sustainability conferences, and posts content on his social channels to promote the work he and the foundation are doing.
What did he say?
"I'm honoured to get this award. It's great having these meaningful chats to move progress forward and I truly appreciate it. I always joke and say climate change could be solved if both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo came out and said: 'Hey, let's solve the environment.' You would see a massive change, but that's the power of sport."
What did the nominations committee say?
"Chris' fight for the cause has been present for many years, ever since he started noticing the amount of waste his team was going through in the clubhouse. He has spent much of his post-baseball life dedicating himself to the cause."

Elite Organisation of the Year

Winner: Forest Green Rovers Football Club
Why did they win?
Since Dale Vince bought a majority stake in the club in 2010, Forest Green Rovers have been on a mission to not only climb the football ladder, but do so as one of the most sustainable clubs in the world. In 2017, football's world governing body Fifa described the League Two side as the "greenest football club in the world", and in 2018 they became the United Nations' first certified carbon-neutral football club. They continue to push to become even more sustainable, and in the past year have focused on switching to greener travel options for the team and fans, while continuing to work on the Eco Park development that will house their new stadium.
What did they say?
Dale Vince: "It's a good feeling and it's a good example of something that helps to propel us. There's recognition around the award and it helps to carry our message around the world. It's all part of our progress. In every sphere of life, we have to change and we have to green up, so sport isn't immune from that. But, at the same time, sport has a unique place in our lives and an opportunity - it is influential."
What did the nominations committee say?
"Forest Green Rovers lead the way in sustainably running a sports team and show that an entire organisation can be environmentally sustainable if you design it right. With a new stadium on the horizon, Forest Green Rovers will continue to be at the forefront of sustainability in sport."

Grassroots Organisation of the Year

Winner: Rhino Cup Champions League
Why did they win?
The Rhino Cup Champions League, which was founded in Mozambique in 2016, is an amateur football league for young men and women in rural African communities surrounding national parks and wildlife reserves. The organisation has used the popularity of football to help local communities feel better connected to wildlife conservation and learn about the impacts of climate change. The league harnesses three key emotions - pride, gratitude, and compassion - which can then inspire and empower participants to actively engage in the cause. The RCCL wants to bring in a new era of conservation practices rooted in sustainable development.
What did they say?
RCCL co-founder Matt Bracken: "The Rhino Cup Champions League came from asking: 'How can we help stop young men from going into the wildlife reserve and risking their lives and the lives of animals to kill that animal for profit?' It is a football league brought to you by your local rhinoceros - and that is bringing so much. It's bringing compassion, happiness, hope and love. It was the communities' idea and that's why it's a success."
What did the nominations committee say?
"The Rhino Cup Champions League is a very different approach at raising sustainability awareness, but it is a very successful one. It has already grown as a competition to neighbouring countries and will only raise more climate awareness the more it grows."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
BBC names 2023 Green Sport Award winners

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
BBC Sport names its 2023 Green Sport Award winners - including Australia men's cricket captain Pat Cummins and League Two football club Forest Green Rovers.