You would be forgiven for missing it, what with all the WWI commemorative events that are to be found in every museum and cultural organisation in the country, not to mention the wonderful heritage Open Doors scheme running across the island over the coming weeks, but this month will also see the first ever National Sporting Heritage Day. September 30th provides communities with a unique opportunity to revisit their sporting heritage, and celebrate cultural phenomena that, like it or not, seems to affect and influence our lives in remarkable ways.
Defining ‘Sporting Heritage’ is, however, no small challenge. After all, sport is a very personal thing. Perhaps on an international rugby match day in Cardiff, you can find several thousand people who are all united in their celebration of the Welsh rugby team, or, for away fans, their dislike of the same team, but within those crowds walking the streets of Cardiff, there will be many people who have no interest in rugby at all. For many, sport is not the day to day, week to week obsession that many season ticket holders will sympathise with. Instead, a relationship with sport might be the enjoyment of watching the Olympics once every four years, and cherishing the thrill based memories experienced in that moment, without engaging with the same sports at all in between Olympic Games. The deeply personal relationship that we have with sport is one of the things that makes it so compelling, the memories unique from person to person.
So in celebrating Sporting Heritage, what exactly are we celebrating? Is it the stadiums in which events have happened? Sport is after all, a very transient creature. Once a goal or try is scored, wicket falls, knock-out blow landed, it is over in an instant. What remains of the moment when the moment has passed? Sadly, for many of us, the stadiums in which those memories were made are gone as well. The demands of commerce and profit have seen the majority of the much loved stadiums of old either redeveloped beyond recognition, or bulldozed and replaced altogether.
Trophies and memorabilia are only of limited value as well. Yes, they stand as visible testaments to achievements made, but they lack something. In the same way as we might look at a WWI medal in a museum exhibition, it is not the medal itself which is compelling, but the circumstances in which it was awarded which capture the imagination. Sporting collections in museums are very much the same.
While the physical reminders are undeniably important, I would argue it is the experience, the memory of the event, which is most significant for our sporting heritage. In this respect, I would wholeheartedly encourage readers to have a watch of the documentary ‘We Beat the All Blacks’. This compelling film visits the community and players of Llanelli, and records their memories of the occasion of the club side’s victory over New Zealand in 1972. This brilliant piece of television is, for me at least, a testament to the importance and power of sporting heritage. It’s so much more than trophies and stadiums, signed shirts and tasselled caps, it is about memory and community.
So, come the 30th of September, try and take the time to talk to some people about their sporting memories. Take the opportunity to record the thoughts and reflections of a certain generation and their reflections on ‘historic’ sporting events and occasions. Or how about make some of your own memories? Make a commitment to write down or record your reflections on a game or season, something that can be shared with generations to come. Memory is powerful, sport as well, combined, they can be truly gripping, yet sadly, too easily lost. For these reasons, a national day for celebrating sporting heritage is a very commendable thing, and I for one, am very much looking forward to it.
David R Howell
Sporting Heritage has arguably been overlooked for too long, so let’s make the 30th of September all about preserving this very fragile form of heritage. Cyfarwydd will be asking for your sporting members towards the end of the month, so start thinking about those sporting events that mean most to you, and stand strongest in the memory.
Defining ‘Sporting Heritage’ is, however, no small challenge. After all, sport is a very personal thing. Perhaps on an international rugby match day in Cardiff, you can find several thousand people who are all united in their celebration of the Welsh rugby team, or, for away fans, their dislike of the same team, but within those crowds walking the streets of Cardiff, there will be many people who have no interest in rugby at all. For many, sport is not the day to day, week to week obsession that many season ticket holders will sympathise with. Instead, a relationship with sport might be the enjoyment of watching the Olympics once every four years, and cherishing the thrill based memories experienced in that moment, without engaging with the same sports at all in between Olympic Games. The deeply personal relationship that we have with sport is one of the things that makes it so compelling, the memories unique from person to person.
So in celebrating Sporting Heritage, what exactly are we celebrating? Is it the stadiums in which events have happened? Sport is after all, a very transient creature. Once a goal or try is scored, wicket falls, knock-out blow landed, it is over in an instant. What remains of the moment when the moment has passed? Sadly, for many of us, the stadiums in which those memories were made are gone as well. The demands of commerce and profit have seen the majority of the much loved stadiums of old either redeveloped beyond recognition, or bulldozed and replaced altogether.
Trophies and memorabilia are only of limited value as well. Yes, they stand as visible testaments to achievements made, but they lack something. In the same way as we might look at a WWI medal in a museum exhibition, it is not the medal itself which is compelling, but the circumstances in which it was awarded which capture the imagination. Sporting collections in museums are very much the same.
While the physical reminders are undeniably important, I would argue it is the experience, the memory of the event, which is most significant for our sporting heritage. In this respect, I would wholeheartedly encourage readers to have a watch of the documentary ‘We Beat the All Blacks’. This compelling film visits the community and players of Llanelli, and records their memories of the occasion of the club side’s victory over New Zealand in 1972. This brilliant piece of television is, for me at least, a testament to the importance and power of sporting heritage. It’s so much more than trophies and stadiums, signed shirts and tasselled caps, it is about memory and community.
So, come the 30th of September, try and take the time to talk to some people about their sporting memories. Take the opportunity to record the thoughts and reflections of a certain generation and their reflections on ‘historic’ sporting events and occasions. Or how about make some of your own memories? Make a commitment to write down or record your reflections on a game or season, something that can be shared with generations to come. Memory is powerful, sport as well, combined, they can be truly gripping, yet sadly, too easily lost. For these reasons, a national day for celebrating sporting heritage is a very commendable thing, and I for one, am very much looking forward to it.
David R Howell
Sporting Heritage has arguably been overlooked for too long, so let’s make the 30th of September all about preserving this very fragile form of heritage. Cyfarwydd will be asking for your sporting members towards the end of the month, so start thinking about those sporting events that mean most to you, and stand strongest in the memory.