SPORT IS BACK, MORE CHERISHED AND MORE PURPOSEFUL THAN EVER BEFORE

WHEN the first Grassroots Sport supplement was published at the start of this year, it was more in hope than expectation. The Scottish Government had not yet given the green light for our children to return to the pitches and courts, the running tracks and swimming pools. Indeed, as the 12-month anniversary of the global pandemic neared, it seemed fanciful to believe that any kind of normality would return any time soon. Lockdowns still loomed large. It still seemed more likely that people would be found crowded round a TV rather than sitting inside a sporting arena. And yet, thanks to the tireless efforts of our athletes, coaches, volunteers and parents, sport came back. In fact, it came back with a bang. Carefully — and correctly — the first steps were taken and, before long, we were striding purposefully back into the old routine. In these supplements, we highlighted the work being done at the wonderful rugby and football clubs across the nation. We brought tales from athletics, swimming, tennis and golf. We brought news of a charity in Aberdeen getting kids involved in extreme sports, boxing clubs in Glasgow swinging opening their doors and skateboarding ramping things up in Dumbarton. In this edition, we have a 21-yearold in Louise Duncan emerging as yet another role model, with the likes of Emma Raducanu and Sky Brown also lighting up the world of sport for the next generation. What comes next? Well, the likes of the National Lottery have provided fantastic financial support throughout the pandemic for sport and that will no doubt continue. We have James Anderson also putting his hand in his pocket to help. We need that and more. We need our politicians to keep up. Sport is back. And it’s time to cash in.