Commonwealth Sport’s Post

📣 The Business of Sport: From Childhood Passion to Lifelong Career 🎯 My journey into the business of sport began long before I ever set foot at UCFB It started as a young fan, my grandmother (Nani) waking me up at 4 AM to watch India’s cricket team play test matches in Australia. I was just 7 years old, but the thrill of watching legends like Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in action sparked a passion that has stayed with me ever since. Around the same age, I discovered my love for football, falling in love with Chelsea FC before Roman Abramovich’s era brought unprecedented success, allowing me to see my team win every single trophy possible. Supporting Chelsea has been a rollercoaster ride, with unforgettable memories that have fueled my passion for the sport. Studying Sports Business at UCFB was the next step, well nothing was straightforward or natural but it was written in the stars that I had to go and do that. Seeing the UCFB stand at Wembley Stadium during 2014/15 during an England friendly and speaking to the team, I immediately decided to take a gap year and leave the University I was at! For the past 7.5 years, I've been fortunate to work in an industry that I truly love. The business of sport is about more than just transactions; it’s about passion, community, and making a real impact. My mission is to continue shaping the landscape, driving growth, and changing the world through sport. I’m always open to learning from different sectors within the industry, and I’m excited about the opportunities to connect, collaborate, and innovate. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sport! 🚀 #SportsBusiness #Football #Cricket #Tennis #Family #ChelseaFC #Passion #Growth #Global #Networking #Partnerships #CareerOpportunities #Sports #Marketing #Events #SportsTravel #UK #UAE #USA

A clarion call to South African private companies. Why is corporate South Africa ignoring sport in public schools? South Africa is great in Rugby because corporate South Africa is involved in sponsoring school rugby. Yesterday, while watching my son playing cricket and grappling with selection politics. I asked another parent next to me. What happens to a child that is not academically strong and there's no sport at school? He said, that is a loose - loose situation. He meant the child has no options or alternatives to pursue a career in sport. The majority of public schools in South Africa does not offer sport except the former model C schools. Schools in quantile 1 - 3 do not have sporting facilities. The children in these schools do not have playing grounds. Their talent is ignored, and marginalised. They are in a loose - loose situation. If they do not succeed academically they'll probably end up on the streets. They got involved in drugs and alcohol consumption. I grew up loving sport and unfortunately there was no sport or playgrounds in my school. I played for a local soccer team and stopped when I got injured. During those days #cocacola was a major sponsor in sport in most of the underprivileged communities. Coca cola played a significant role in developing raw talent from communitues with difficult background. However, I don't see their presence anymore. Is it a change in policy or leadership? Why others are not playing their part. Look at USA and Australia What can we learn from these two countries when it comes to swimming and tennis? How do they nurture their talent? They are both successful in sport. They give children hope and an alternative to academics. Look at France France was underperforming in soccer until they decided in around 1993 to set-up national soccer academies around the country. In 1998, they won their first soccer world cup. In 2018, they won the world cup again. In 2022, they lost in the final against Argentina. Look at South Africa Only in rugby where we produce world champions. Boxing is dead. We used to win world titles. In cricket we choke in the big stage. Netball we struggled to produce world champions. Why cant we produce world champions in tennis, swimming, cricket, golf, motorsport, athletics, boxing, netball, volleyball, soccer and etc.? I appeal to those in position of power to revive our sport and athletics in public schools especially the underprivileged communities. Those kids have no option if they can't perform in school their lives are doomed. #jse #departmentofeducation #presidency #sports #safa #cricket #tennis #netball #sarugby

As the Paris Olympics gear up to begin later this week (26 July), which celebrates global excellence in sport, millions of children around the world are denied sporting opportunities due to poverty, conflict, gender or disability. Save the Children is joining Olympians and children to call for greater recognition of sport as an essential right for children! Among those athletes speaking out is Kiwi Olympic heptathlete and Chair of the New Zealand Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission Sarah Cowley Ross, who says sport is vital for children's physical and mental health, helping them learn to move their bodies, get stronger, breathe deeper, which has ongoing benefits for their physical and mental health. Sport also teaches young people important lifelong skills such as resilience, dedication and teamwork. "We need to be doing everything possible to create opportunities and remove barriers so sport can be for all. "When I think about what sports has given me, there is so much. The skills I have learnt, the friendships I've made, the people, the experiences. But it's also taught me to get up when I was down and keep going. "As a parent I've also got to see the benefits of sport on my own children - and how the people involved in those early sporting moments can influence a lifelong love of sports. When you're having fun as a kid, you want to go back for more. It's about them going away with great memories, even if the outcome was not exactly what they wanted. Because sometimes the experiences where you have to dig deep to keep going have a really positive outcome. "For any child wanting to become an Olympian one day, go for it. Enjoy the journey. It will be a long journey but a really rewarding one. Celebrate the milestones you achieve along the way- and get the right people around you." Cowley-Ross represented New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympics and two Commonwealth Games (Glasgow 2014 and Melbourne 2006). She is also part of the NZOC Olympic Ambassador Programme which sees her visit schools and speak to children about Olympic values and her journey. Picture credit: Alisha Lovrich Read full media release - https://loom.ly/Q4HzMR8

Explore the surge of privately educated athletes in Team GB's 2024 Olympic squad and its impact on British sports. Uncover the growing divide, historical context, and implications for the future of Olympic representation in the UK. https://zurl.co/ZWj8 #Olympics #Olympics2024 #TeamGB #BritishSports #PrivateSchools #UK

**Player Development: A Call for Change** It is encouraging to see that someone within the Scottish Football Association (SFA) has finally acknowledged the need for change in player development. However, it is puzzling that the SFA has been critical of and refused to engage with individuals who have been advocating for the same changes for nearly a decade. In the past ten years, many people have been actively promoting and delivering small sided games and futsal. Despite our efforts, the SFA has only attended one of our sessions, leagues, or tournaments, and that was nine years ago. Despite this lack of support, several local players with a futsal background have been selected for the Scotland national team in recent years. These players include: - Alasdair Davidson - Erin Husband - Jessica Husband - Olivia Chomzcuk - Alfie Hutchison - Keir McMeekin - Allan Clark - Amelie Chomzcuk Additionally, other players from Joga Futsal and other organisations have also been selected for the national team. It is concerning that the SFA continues to overlook potential avenues for player development. Whether this is due to arrogance or ignorance, it is hindering the progress of Scottish football. We urge the SFA to reconsider its stance and engage with those who are actively working to improve player development in Scotland. By embracing new ideas and methods, the SFA can help to ensure that Scottish football remains competitive on the international stage.

Athletics in Uganda is evolving, shifting from a leisure activity to a source of economic growth and social unity. The 2023 National Education Policy's emphasis on physical education in schools highlights this shift. Sports are being recognized not just as a source of entertainment but as a contributor to employment and income for many. For low-income families struggling with school fees, athletics offer a promising avenue for their children's futures, financially and in terms of personal growth. Sports victories unify Ugandans and foster national pride and solidarity. And beyond the field, the sports industry stimulates job creation across various sectors. Read the full blog to explore how Ugandan athletes have contributed to this global community.

While we may have reached a consensus on the importance of sports education, we are still grappling with how much time and resources young people should dedicate to sports. India's performance at the 2024 Olympics and the disproportionate relationship between its population and the number of medals won has raised concerns about the sports facilities available to the country’s youth and the effectiveness of our system to identify and nurture talent. As we reflect on this, we urge you to take this introspection further. Training athletes to win medals on the international stage requires top-notch facilities. Is our performance at the global level a reflection of just the lack of such facilities, or does it point to a more systemic issue? We know that sports are also crucial for the overall development of an individual. If we truly lack a system that ensures every child has access to sports education, are we significantly hindering the physical, mental, and social growth of our youth? Read on to discover how Enabling Leadership's Play program uses football to help children from under-resourced backgrounds develop essential leadership skills and grow into responsible citizens. . . #sportsdevelopment #sportsforall #sportsperson #lifeofanathlete #sportsindia #experientiallearning #sportsmanship #qualityeducation #sdg4 #fifafoundation #ballforall #footballforchildren #soccerclub #lifeskillsdevelopment #learningthroughplay #cricketindia #teamspirit #sportsforchildren #nonprofitorganization #ngoindia #paris2024 #parisolympics #olympics2024 #indiaatolympics

Life is all about learning, loosing, rising and moving on. "Moving on" can be a win, or sharpening your sword, but it is always relative. Each one's life revolves around these few things in a loop. What is very critical in life is to experience all these with acceptance. Sports and learning through sports bring in a very practical set of skillsets which blend with the entire life of a child, if exposed to at an early age. Importance of giving equal weightage to sports along with academics is very crucial thus. We at Enabling Leadership Global try to bring in football in the early years from Grade 4 onwards to expose the children in this sport and also mindfully inculcate the life skill learning from football as a transferable skill to them.

As the 2024 Olympics fever is settling down, I can’t help but reflect on the events that unfolded on the global stage. It was certainly not blue skies and golden ribbons as we had hoped for in India, but rather fingers pointed with no one taking responsibility. I’ve had several conversations these last two weeks and I can sense the heavy heart that every Indian is carrying at the moment. What happened to our dearest Vinesh was utterly disappointing and shambolic - right from the dark days of her protests to the pre-final assessments and her post competition announcement. Incidentally, this has created an outcry aiming towards the importance of having a strong psychological and mental support system for athletes. There is a strong need for reform at the governance level to create a safe space for our current and future generation. And if they do come about, then, a solid cadence to ensure that the changes are being implemented & monitored at the ground level. I hope there will be capable #leaders within the #hierarchy who would step up and take the initiative. I will certainly be here to back them. However, as these events unfolded, I recalled my time at the Blackburn Rovers Football Club academy in the UK. I wanted to take a moment to appreciate the little things that they were doing so well. Stuart Jones, the academy manager at the time had given me a warm welcome and introduced me to the team as we walked in. What surprised me was his affection towards his players and how the players responded to him. There was a sense of belonging for the players and it seemed like they felt at ease. As I toured the academy further, I could understand They Why - the amount of care and attention the academy were giving to the development and well being of their players - Great going VENKY'S INDIA LTD. and Martin Jones. If you zoom out a little, you will see that it’s not just this academy but that the entire governance system for the academies in the UK has laid emphasis on player development, player welfare and player aftercare. The EPPP by the EFL (English Football League) and the Premier League is one of many that sets a high standard for ensuring holistic development of the youth in sports in their country. While it is still far from perfect, this joint initiative by the football associations and its member academies are creating a model world. As we move forward from the #Olympic fever and the recent heartache, it's crucial to learn from our experiences. It's imperative for changes to occur. Maybe this comprehensive approach could serve as an excellent model for us. It's time to implement necessary changes to uplift and support our current and future athletes, creating a better, safer, and more encouraging sports ecosystem. #supportathletes #needforchange #sportsleaders #dartle #sports #india #uk

💬 "The London 2012 Olympic motto was to “Inspire a generation”, with the games aiming to increase participation in sport. 12 years on, we would expect to see the benefits of those games in the top athletes coming through in Paris. Yet the proportion of privately educated medallists has barely shifted in that time." Highlighting these access gaps certainly does not take away from the amazing achievements of Team GB. But change is needed at every level - from the allocation of sport funding to actions taken by community sports clubs to widen access - to ensure all young people inspired by our sporting stars have the chance to follow in their footsteps. https://lnkd.in/ef8sr7dZ