The Sports Heritage Network (SHN) was
established in 2003 to promote interest in Britain's unique sports
heritage. With funding from DCMS/Museums Libraries Archives
Council, a major survey of Britain's sporting heritage was
undertaken and a report was produced by SHN in 2006. This
identified over 400 sports heritage collections in museums,
libraries and archives throughout the country and many
opportunities for their further promotion.
The SHN developed on "Our Sporting Life" during
the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 bid stage as its members saw
London 2012 as a unique opportunity for re-profiling the value of
sports heritage within the UK. It was further inspired by the
promise, given by Lord Coe at the Singapore bid, to re-engage young
people with the Olympic movement through the development of a wide
ranging cultural programme.
The members of the SHN have the experience of releasing the
power of objects through exhibitions, events and education
programmes to deliver world-class excellence. Never before has
sport and culture worked so closely to engage young people in this
way, never before have members come together to deliver a national
programme, never before have we worked so closely with the sporting
bodies.
The Steering Group within the SHN, responsible for driving
"Our Sporting Life", includes the following major
national museums:
- National Football Museum, Preston
- Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
- MCC Museum, Lord's
- River & Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames
- World Rugby Museum, Twickenham
- National Horseracing Museum, Newmarket
Asking the question "What does sport mean to
you?" "Our Sporting Life" seeks to
identify sporting moments, heroes, objects, photographs and
experiences that have inspired the people of Britain. The public
are asked to share their memories, via the "Our Sporting
Life" website and specially designed postcards. These
public contributions are designed to work at two levels. On the one
hand, to identify and explore the power and importance of national
and well known examples of our sports heritage. Equally, we want to
discover the personal, family and community memories, which will
strengthen our understanding of the nation's shared sporting
heritage.
Lord Moynihan, as BOA Chairman, and Ann Cutcliffe, Deputy Chair
of Paralympics GB, launched the project in the Long Room at Lord's
on 25th November 2008. The audience was drawn from sports governing
bodies, successful Olympic and other athletes, aspiring young
athletes, volunteers from sports and heritage organisations,
national heritage bodies, sports museums, local and regional
museums and sports collections, and the media. Crucially each sport
was also be represented by an iconic heritage object, e.g. the ball
from the 1966 World Cup Final, the Ashes Urn, a 1908 Olympic Rowing
Medal, etc. These objects were the centre of connections made by
established and young athletes with their interest in sport.
Phase One is now being promoted to the widest possible audience.
The data from the survey undertaken in Phase One will be captured
and distributed in two ways. Firstly, by sport to a nominated
heritage contact and secondly, by region. In this way each sport
will increase its own links with individuals and their memories. At
the same time each region will build a community of interest that
can then be reflected in subsequent local exhibitions during Phase
Two, planned for 2010. Further exhibitions and activities are
planned for 2011 / 2012 and into the subsequent legacy years.
