What is the Vision for Sport

An active nation where everyone can have a lifelong enjoyment of sport.

Active Nation

The vision is to create an active nation. We want as many people as possible to be inspired to be active through sport.

Everyone

The vision is for everyone. From people who don’t see themselves as sporty to people who win medals, from every community in Wales.

Lifelong

The vision is for life, it responds to the needs of people at different stages of their life.

Enjoyment

The vision focuses on creating a wide range of positive experiences so everyone can enjoy sport.

What is the mission?

By doing this we can unleash the benefits of sport for everyone.

The 7 wellbeing goals

1. A prosperous Wales

Wellbeing Goal

An innovative, productive and low carbon society which recognises the limits of the global environment and therefore uses resources efficiently and proportionately (including acting on climate change). A society which develops a skilled and well-educated population in an economy which generates wealth and provides employment opportunities, allowing people to take advantage of the wealth generated through securing fair work.

How sport can help

  • The unique benefit sport can deliver for Wales is realised across public, private and voluntary sectors, thanks to collaborative partnerships.
  • The sport sector is financially sustainable and supporting each other in achieving net zero.
  • Employment and volunteering opportunities are available through sport and active recreation.
  • Education and skill development opportunities are offered through sport and active recreation.
  • Employers in the sport sector are socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible.
  • Government demonstrates the importance of sport and physical activity in considering sports’ benefit to the economy when drafting budgets.
2. A resilient Wales

Wellbeing Goal

A nation which maintains and enhances a biodiverse natural environment with healthy functioning ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the capacity to adapt to change.  

How sport can help

  • Local sport and physical activity opportunities are developed to reduce the carbon footprint.
  • Locally built and natural resources for sport and physical activity opportunities are developed.
  • The natural environment as an environment for sport and recreation is understood and valued as protected ecosystems.
  • Child-centred environments are developed to help children and their families understand the importance of and foster a love of sport and physical activity, whilst creating opportunities for all children in Wales to be active in and around the school day.
  • Welsh athletes are supported throughout and following on from their sporting careers.
  • The sporting workforce are supported and highly skilled.
  • A person-centred approach to athlete development is recognised across Government and influences other work in the Sport Sector.
3. A healthier Wales

Wellbeing Goal

A society in which people’s physical and mental well-being is maximised and in which choices and behaviours that benefit future health are understood .

How sport can help

  • Sport and physical activity are championed as the ‘greatest preventative health tool in the country’, and its preventative health benefits are also recognised.
  • Regular sport and physical activity are considered an essential part of a person’s good mental, physical and social health.
  • Education and community centres share assets for sports activity – creating health benefits for the local community.
  • Physical activity is delivered confidently to all pupils through the Welsh Curriculum.
4. A more equal Wales

Wellbeing Goal

A society that enables people to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstances (including their socio-economic circumstances).

How sport can help

  • Every person in Wales can access sport and physical activity. Where barriers exist, support is available for the sport sector to eliminate them.
  • The lived experiences and current needs of all citizens are understood by the sport sector.
  • Organisations are working together to create routes into sport across sectors.
  • Positive action is used to support under-represented groups both within sport and to encourage participation in sport.
  • Welsh Government and the sport sector are insight led and opportunities which are person centred are realised by the use of data and insight.
  • All sporting opportunities for children are safe, meet their individual needs, and are led by their voices with no barriers to participation.
  • The Welsh Curriculum supports and empowers everyone working with young people to deliver physical activity.
  • Digital opportunities that minimise obstacles to sport are understood and harnessed to increase participation.
5. A Wales of cohesive communities

Wellbeing Goal

Attractive, safe, viable and well-connected communities.

How sport can help

  • Sport is used as a tool in promoting community safety, lowering crime and anti-social behaviour.
  • Organisations share resources to provide a range of lifelong activities that positively impact on people’s well-being.
  • There are local opportunities for volunteering and skill development through sport.
  • There are well-run Sport Partnerships across Wales which work collaboratively with existing organisations in their region.
  • Communities have accessible sporting opportunities available to them from trusted, local sources with the full potential of schools and colleges in Wales realised.
  • Sport and physical activity is viewed as a positive tool which promotes diversity, inclusion and community cohesion.
  • There is a strategic plan for the development of future-ready sports facilities.
6. A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language

Wellbeing Goal

A society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language, and which encourages people to participate in the arts, and sports and recreation.  

How sport can help

  • Bilingualism is promoted through sport.
  • There are visible and accessible sporting events.
  • Wales is promoted as a sporting destination of choice through Wales’ outstanding natural environments and world-class facilities.
  • There are visible sporting role models from communities across Wales.
  • Wales, and its sporting achievements and ethos, are well recognised internationally.
  • Coaches are empowered to support participants and encourage a range of opportunities, avoiding early specialisation.
  • The sport sector is supported adequately to provide inclusive pathways focused on athletes.
7. A globally responsible Wales

Wellbeing Goal

A nation which, when doing anything to improve the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales, takes account of whether doing such a thing may make a positive contribution to global well-being.

How sport can help

  • Sport and leisure facilities are sustainable and responsible.
  • Procurement across the sport sector is socially, ethically and environmentally responsible.
  • Low carbon technologies are used, and innovative technologies are found.
  • Sustainability in sport is recognised and championed in order to benefit climate change efforts, encouraging sustainable behaviours across the sector.

By acting in the right way today, tomorrow and in the future, we can improve the social, environmental, economic and cultural well-being of Wales.

Long term

Balancing short-term need with long-term and planning for the future.

  • The Vision for Sport in Wales is a long term vision and will allow stakeholders to plan for the long term.
  • Developing opportunities that respond to the needs of people in a changing society.

Prevention

Putting resources into preventing problems occurring or getting worse.

  • Creating local opportunities for everyone to join in.
  • Improving people’s well-being, self-confidence and motivation through activities that are fun and sustainable.
  • Ensuring that sport is accessible, inclusive and affordable, leaving no one behind.
  • Innovating, taking risks and being bold.
  • Providing people with the skills to reach their potential.
  • Working together, sharing resources and playing our part.

Integration

Considering impact on all well-being goals together and on other bodies.

  • The Vision unites decision makers and organisations through its ambitions.
  • By working together, we can unleash the benefits of sport for everyone.
  • Stakeholders and providers should consider alignment with Public Sector Bodies’ well-being objectives and local delivery plans.
  • In line with the Equality Act, the Vision accelerates action to remove all forms of inequality and ensures that sport is accessible, leaving no one behind.
  • The Welsh language should not be treated less favourably and should be considered in ensuring a lifelong participation in sport for everyone.

Collaboration

Working together with other partners to deliver objectives.

  • The Vision for Sport belongs to, and needs the support of, everyone in Wales to ensure its success.
  • Those involved in sport and others helping deliver public services such as health, education, managing natural resources and economic development.
  • Working, investing, learning and succeeding together.

Involvement

Involving those with an interest and seeking their views.

  • The Vision is for everyone. From people who don’t see themselves as sporty, to people who win medals.
  • It promotes collaboration, working together and co-production to ensure that the design of opportunities encourage participation for everyone, for life, in all communities.

You and the Vision

There's more than one way to be a part of the Vision.

Participate

Being a participant - Anyone who takes part, at whatever level

Support

Being a fan or a parent - Anyone who helps by being there, contributing time, energy and effort.

Deliver

Being a volunteer or coach - Anyone who helps by creating opportunities for others.

Succeed

Being the best you can be - Anyone who achieves personal success

Achieving the Vision

Achieving this will mean we can:

  • Improve people’s well-being, self-confidence and motivation to participate and succeed through activities that are fun and sustainable.
  • Provide people with the skills to reach their potential and achieve their goals.
  • Support communities to flourish and be better connected by creating opportunities for everyone to join in.
  • Promote Wales to the world through our sporting excellence.

We will work in the best way possible to:

  • Work, invest, learn and succeed together.
  • Create experiences that are welcoming, fun and safe.
  • Develop opportunities that are local, visible and inspiring.
  • Ensure that sport is accessible, inclusive and affordable, leaving no one behind.

Active Nation

We want everyone in Wales to be inspired to get active through sport.

Physical activity includes a wide-ranging spectrum of both planned and routine activity, with some examples of both below.

While recognising the contribution that many routine activities make to helping people in Wales be active in their daily lives, the Vision is focused on planned activity. It is through these activities that we can unleash the benefits of sport into people's lives.

Planned activity

Sport

  • Structured
  • Competitive Sport
  • Informal Sport
  • Exercise and Fitness Training
  • Individual Pursuits

Recreation

  • Walking & Hiking
  • Outdoor Pursuits
  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Structured Play
  • Dance
Routine activity

Active travel

  • Active Commuting
  • Active Travel to School
  • Purposeful Journeys
  • Walking and Cycling

Incidental activity 

  • Housework
  • Gardening and DIY
  • Informal Play
  • Active Professions
  • Active Working Practices

Together we can

This Vision for Sport belongs to and needs the support of everyone in Wales to ensure its success. From those directly involved in sport to others helping deliver public services such as health, education, natural resources and economic development.

If you carry out community work, raise a family or run a business – we can all share this vision and play our part.

By coming together, people of all ages and all communities can unleash the benefits of sport for everyone.