Young Ambassadors: the future of sport in Wales
 |
| Some familiar faces were present at the Conference |
And rightly so, the role of our YA’s has now far outstretched from its original remit. A sign of the massive success they have delivered in supporting post-Olympic Legacy - their endless generation of inspiration and opportunities for their peers to get involved in sport, seen as a key influence on participation figures.
Providing a Voice
A topic hot on the lips of Keynote speakers was the 2013 School Sport Survey. Many keen to recognise that it was the energy and commitment shown by YAs across the country that ensured the voice of young people across Wales could now be heard.
 |
| Minister for Sport John Griffiths AM thanked YAs |
Their efforts helping to deliver the most important piece of insight into school sport ever produced; something which will now be used to shape future policy and expectantly improve the future health of the nation.
Minister for Sport John Griffiths AM, took the conference as an opportunity to thank the Young Ambassadors of Wales for their role both in the collection of responses and also for their undoubted contribution to the improvements in school sport since 2011 highlighted by the survey.
An Inspirational Force
The conference housed an energy and inspirational quality that oozed from the young role models. These characteristics something that Sport Wales CEO Sarah Powell has urged as crucial to taking sport into the next generation.
Words of confidence in the youngster’s ability to deliver just this came from Welsh Sprinter, Christian Malcolm. His fellow Olympians, Alex Danson and Sophie Cox giving the new Gold recruits guidance on how best to perform in their Role Model position; it seeming only right that such inspirational youngsters should take personal tips from our Olympic elite.
Fit for the Challenge
Called to action on supporting the quest for physical literacy among Welsh children, for reaching those groups that the sector is currently not and for creating a nation a of supporters behind Team Wales, it is without doubt that the YA movement is now an integral part of the sector.
The determination and passion shown by each and every Gold YA in delivering results, leaving many in awe and creating a further buzz at the 2013 conference.
Commonwealth Games Council for Wales CEO, Chris Jenkins pledged to inspire YAs across the country with a successful medal winning team. Their response; to grab the invitation to become part of Team Wales, pledging themselves to unite their communities behind our Athletes, while building on the successful legacy that they have created from the 2012 Olympics: They will get even more youngsters hooked on sport!
 |
| YA Steering group promise 2014 legacy is in good hands |
Perhaps the clearest message from the conference was that Young Ambassadors have and will need to continue playing a crucial role not only in delivery but also in shaping sporting opportunities across Wales.
And as Sport Wales looks to greater collaboration with other sectors to address national problems including poverty and obesity, the role of a YA looks set to continue growing: A challenge I am now sure they will thrive in.
0 comments:
Post a Comment