The worlds of sport and leisure like so many other sectors have been significantly affected by the COVID pandemic – and so players, athletes, fans and businesses will be fully embracing the return to normality.  Previously postponed events are now taking place albeit with limited crowds in attendance, and sports facilities in general are beginning to open up.

Off the fields of play, sport has seen the emergence of some key issues over the last 18 months, most notably a far greater focus on diversity and inclusion and the importance of physical activity in promoting wellness across all areas of the population. In this edition we discuss these themes with leading sector executives and are hugely grateful for their insight and contributions.

Within sport, the focus on D&I has never been greater with an increased awareness of mental health issues, the BLM movement and support for the LGBTQ+ community all acting as catalysts. In what has very much been a more “traditional sport”, Annamarie Phelps discusses how the BHA (British Horseracing Authority) is driving a range of initiatives through the “Industry Commitment” to ensure that racing becomes more diverse, accessible and supportive to all.

Glenn Earlam is no stranger to “delighting customers” and growing businesses. He joined David Lloyd as Chief Executive from Merlin Entertainments and has overseen significant growth of the business, the introduction of new concepts, increased membership numbers and the emergence of the “destination” family Club.  Having recently been appointed as Executive Chair, we chat to Glenn about embracing the opportunities to grow and diversify in the post Covid era.

Since Brian Facer joined British Cycling in January 2021, he has quickly moved into top gear – outlining some key objectives to continue to drive the organisation forwards. In this article Brian reflects on his start in the role, the launch of the #EveryoneWins campaign and how cycling can contribute to the broader health and wellness agenda.