The question of legacy from the hosting of major sporting events is often looked at in terms of the venues, the infrastructure and the imagination, big picture stuff that more often than not fails to stand the test of time a decade on.
The Commonwealth Games held recently in Birmingham though have adopted a more immediate sense of ‘leaving something behind that will give rise to immediate benefits.
A cache of over 16,000 pieces of equipment from hockey balls to bibs, bikes to weights and everything in between is going to be made available to local sporting and community groups around the English midlands.
The initiative was decided upon by the Organising Committee of the Games, Sport England and the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Applications from groups will be accepted on the Sport England website until the middle of September.
As a mark of the multicultural nature of the region, the application process guidance notes have been translated into 15 different languages.
“It’s fantastic to think the equipment used to set personal bests and Commonwealth Games records will soon be used in community centres and schools across the West Midlands,” said Minister Nigel Huddleston.
“This is an opportunity take a piece of Commonwealth Games history and inspire your community to fall in love with a new sport.”
It is a great idea and could be one that will create stories that last long after the bunting has been packed away and forgotten.
