The Bank of Mum and Dad? That’s just the start! Being the parent or guardian of a talented young athlete is so much more. Taxi driver, personal assistant, sports psychologist, lead nutritionist…and that’s under normal circumstances. Their CV would have grown even further in recent times. School teacher, training partner, social media assistant…and their back garden or garage has probably become a gym! They really are the ‘team behind the team’ as they take on many different roles.
There are families up and down the country who will be spending more quality time together right now. There are others who may be unable to see loved ones except via video call. We are all experiencing lots of different feelings and facing our own unique challenges. Yet, for the parents and guardians of talented young athletes, there will always be a common thread that brings them together… the love of the sporting journey and the value it brings to their family’s lives.
SportsAid wants to share a special film which tells this story and shows just how important the contribution of parents and guardians is to British sport. They interviewed Commonwealth Games gold medal winning captain Ama Agbeze alongside several of the charity’s most prominent alumni, including Jessica Ennis-Hill and Rebecca Adlington, as well as many of their currently supported athletes, to truly understand the pivotal role their families have played in their successes, and capture the emotion involved.
Here is the final product…
So… thank you for everything you do. All those early starts and late finishes, the journeys to and from training and competitions, paying for equipment, washing the kit, cooking meals… and the rest! Thank you for the emotional support and guidance, as well as the sacrifices you make, to help your child pursue their ambitions. Sports Aid hope the film offers a small release and inspiration at a challenging time, as it rightly champions parents and guardians for the support which often goes unseen.
**All of the video content recording took place during late February – prior to any government guidance on Covid-19.
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