HRH The Princess Royal Celebrates Impact of Coaches with Visit to UK Coaching Conference At Olympic Park
News by UK Coaching
HRH The Princess Royal addressed over 150 leading figures from across sport at the annual UK Coaching Conference at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The Princess Royal, patron for UK Coaching since 1993, took part in a workshop with delegates and delivered a closing speech to the conference celebrating the impact that coaches have from the playground to the podium and highlighting what is needed to keep hard-working coaches at the centre of their communities.
The Princess Royal’s words strengthen our resolve to be here for every coach.
The UK Coaching Conference is an annual celebration of coaches and brought together key figures from organisations including Sport England and The FA to help shape a more unified coaching system across the UK.
It highlighted the importance of creating conditions that support, value, and retain coaches, who are the driving force behind participation and performance, ensuring the sector does not continue to lose skilled individuals.
The conference which took place at the iconic Olympic Park Velodrome was opened by Jon Norfolk MBE, Head Coach of GB Cycling and UK Coaching Ambassador.
Mark Gannon, CEO, UK Coaching, commented: “HRH The Princess Royal is a long-standing advocate for coaches and the vital role they play in society. Her presence at our flagship event means a great deal to us and to the coaching community, we are incredibly grateful for the support we have been afforded by having her patronage over the years.
“HRH The Princess Royal helped close a day focused on the opportunities and challenges facing our sector, including the need to create safer, more inclusive environments where every coach and participant is supported to thrive. This is a challenge we’re meeting head-on, providing every coach with the learning, support and community they need to develop and succeed.”
Jon Norfolk MBE, Head Coach GB Cycling Team, added: “It was great to be back at the Olympic Park Velodrome and to be part of a unique and vital day, bringing the sector together to reflect and celebrate the incredible role that coaches play at all levels of sport and physical activity. For coaches to be at their best, they need to feel supported, enthused and connected which is where opportunities like this are so impactful. It was a great way for the community to spend some time together, to share great practice and inspire each other in transforming people’s experiences of sport and physical activity."