Countdown Is On To Get Involved In This Year’s National Sporting Heritage Day

The official countdown is on to celebrate the UK’s sporting legacy for National Sporting Heritage Day

Launched by Leeds-based social enterprise, Sporting Heritage CIC in 2014 following the 2012 London Olympics, and taking place on Thursday 30th September, the annual event has grown year on year. 100s of museums, archives, galleries, schools, community groups, sporting governing bodies, and their associated clubs from across the country will take part in the celebration.

This year’s event is set to be the biggest yet with a particular focus on sharing sporting stories and memories between the generations.

Founding director, Dr. Justine Reilly said: “Many of us have really missed seeing our elderly relatives and friends over the last year, and as we can start to enjoy each other’s company again, we thought it would be a brilliant opportunity to bring sport into the conversation.

Whether it’s seeing old football programmes, family photos, a kit or hearing a song or watching a video clip – we have all got a sporting story to share that sticks in our minds and brings memories and emotions flooding back. This week’s launch coincides with National Dementia Awareness week and the run-up to the release of our handbook on how sporting memories can play an effective role in supporting those with memory loss, and how organisations can set up their own sporting heritage memories group.”

Organisations and community groups are invited to apply for Sporting Heritage’s community grant scheme from today to host an event or activity to celebrate their local sporting heritage, and schools are encouraged to take part with a specially designed resource pack now available to download with a variety of activities to choose from.

Justine adds: “This last year has really highlighted how much sport means to the British public especially with the restrictions we've had in place – from playing it, to watching it and talking about it – it’s part of our DNA. National Sporting Heritage Day is about celebrating our heritage from across the whole sporting spectrum from the grassroots to the elite. We want to encourage people to have the conversations about their sporting memories and visit and enjoy the amazing collections in our museums, communities and online.”

This year’s event has the support of media partners, The Mirror and The Express who will be showcasing sporting collections and stories leading up to the event. A host of Sporting Heritage Ambassadors, including world squash champion Nick Matthew and poet, Ian Macmillan are also supporting the national event.