‘It’s our collective effort that makes athletics the most successful sport in Scotland’ – David Ovens

Thursday 2nd January 2025

Photo by Bobby Gavin

As I look forward with anticipation to what 2025 might hold for scottishathletics, I have been reflecting on my first three years as Chair of the organisation, writes David Ovens.

When I joined as Chair in 2021, we were emerging from the worst of the Covid pandemic’s restrictions but was still dealing with its ripple effects. Our membership levels tumbled during this period, for a variety of reasons, including the inability to hold competitions and the closure of facilities up and down the country.

Many in our community struggled with mental health challenges due to isolation, lack of routine, and uncertainty about the future. While scottishathletics did all we could during this period to retain some level of activity, including staging virtual and socially-distanced competitions, it was a huge relief for everyone when the return to normality happened.

Since then, as a governing body and as a community, we have rebuilt and have emerged stronger than ever.

The last three years have seen record success for Scottish athletes on the world stage, whether at the World or European Championships, the Olympics, the Paralympics or the Commonwealth Games, on the roads or in the mountains or cross country.

Wherever you look, we have seen our athletes beating the best in the world and it has truly felt like a golden era for athletics in Scotland.

To add to that, we have seen our young athletes succeeding at age group level on the global stage too, which provides hope that our golden era may extend some distance into the future.

Success on the global stage is built over many years and starts at the grassroots.

The importance of creating strong foundations and strong pathways in the sport cannot be overstated. It is the network of volunteer Officials, coaches, parents and other helpers who form the backbone of our sport, giving up their time to support our young athletes as they develop.

Our club system is second to none in the world and provides a coherent pathway for developing athletes from schools to general participation, event specialisation, competition and then onto success.

Everybody has a role to play in our sport and when we all work together, we can achieve great success.

As governing body, we work tirelessly in tandem with our volunteers to co-ordinate their effort and to ensure the success of our sport.

As Chair, I am well aware that some people will criticise the…