What is the biggest success story in British sport?

For me, the transformation of Team GB’s fortunes from 36th in the medal table in the mid 90’s to today being one of the world’s leading nations at the Olympic Games is an incredible story of success.

A small island nation transforming from ‘also rans’ into an Olympic and Paralympic champions – and, over the past four Olympic cycles, the UK has had global superpowers like USA and China quaking in their spikes.

At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, Sir Steve Redgrave won Britain’s one solitary gold medal – and, as he said in the Daily Mail earlier this week, the transformation of Britian’s sporting success over the past three decades is down to the introduction of The National Lottery.

Since 1996, smart people within British sport have made smart investments to support our athletes and it has consistently paid off – 29 Golds in London, 27 in Rio, 22 in Tokyo .. 3rd, 2nd and 4th in the last three Olympics .. It is a remarkable story of success.

Over the summer, Run Communications will be working with leading media brands to highlight the transformational role of National Lottery funding in Olympic and Paralympic sport and will bring to life how it supports our elite athletes and grassroots sport.

Sport has the power to connect us through shared moments of triumph (and heartbreak). It speaks a common language and it brings us together like nothing else – Mo’s run in London Stadium, Jess crossing the line on Super Saturday, Jonnie Peacock winning the 100m, GB’s Women’s hockey win in Rio, Redgrave’s fifth gold, Daley’s ‘I got the big G, boys’, Kelly Holmes reaction at winning in Athens .. all indelible memories made and ‘I remember where I was when’ moments. 

The list goes on and will be rewritten again in Paris.

For all our incredible medal-moments, however, it is within local communities where, I believe, that the power of sport is most felt most keenly. 

The new kit and cones at your daughter’s Saturday football, a new roof on your rugby club, hot showers fitted at the local tennis club .. these are not headline-grabbing ‘gold medal achievements’ but it is where National Lottery funding impacts most people every day.

Grassroots sport is a gift we must treasure – for our physical health, mental health and for community cohesion. 

The friends that you make in grassroots sport, the life-lessons that you learn in competition .. these are powerful, important and enriching .. not to mention being the entry point to sport for everyone within Team GB and ParalympicsGB.

Run is proud to work with The National Lottery to showcase the transformational nature of elite and grassroots sport.

Over the next two months we be all over the Home Nations delivering editorial content which connects our stars in Paris with the heroes in community sport.

Long may sport continue to work its magic – both at the Olympics or at your local club.

It’s a national treasure (a bit like Sir Steve).