Reflecting on Our Sporting Past, Reimagining Our Future

Amazin Le Thi

Alina Oswald

As we come to the end of the year this December, it’s a time for reflection—a moment to honour the stories we’ve uncovered, the communities we’ve connected with, and the powerful reminder that sport is history, identity, and resistance.

This year, as an ambassador for Sporting Heritage, I’ve travelled across communities, spoken with change-makers, and witnessed firsthand how sporting heritage continues to shape not only how we see the past—but how we imagine the future. And what a transformative year it’s been.

In September, we marked National Sporting Heritage Day alongside British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) Heritage Month, spotlighting Collections at Risk and amplifying underrepresented voices. For many, this was the first time they saw their family’s sporting legacy recognised as a part of Britain’s cultural history. From forgotten medals tucked away in drawers to community football team photos dating back decades, we learned that sporting heritage lives not only in grand stadiums and national museums, but in everyday lives.

For me personally, growing up as a queer Asian competitive athlete, I never saw myself reflected in any sporting stories. As an ambassador for Sporting Heritage has been a way to change that—not just for myself, but for the next generation of kids who deserve to grow up seeing people like them celebrated in our national sporting archives.

We’ve made incredible strides in 2025. Local initiatives have documented intergenerational sports stories. Community leaders have launched projects to preserve endangered collections. National institutions are rethinking whose history they prioritise. But we still face real challenges: so many sporting stories—particularly from Black, Asian, LGBTQ, disabled, working-class, and migrant communities—remain untold or at risk of disappearing altogether.

As we look ahead to 2026, I carry deep hope. We are not starting from scratch—we are building from a foundation laid by communities who have always been part of the fabric of British sport, even when they were written out of the mainstream narrative.

Next year will be pivotal. With the momentum we’ve built, 2026 offers us the chance to reimagine the way we document and honour sporting history. I’m more determined than ever to ensure our national sporting heritage reflects the full spectrum of identities and lived experiences across the UK.

December is a season of endings, but also of beginnings. Let’s move into the new year with gratitude for the past and a bold vision for the future—a future where every athlete, supporter, and storyteller knows: your history matters. Your legacy belongs here.

You can hear more from Amazin LeThi by following her on social media

Author

Amazin LeThi, Ambassador for Sporting Heritage