Jo Pavey backs Commonwealth Games to inspire nation

Former Commonwealth Games medallist Jo Pavey believes Birmingham 2022 has served as the perfect inspiration to get the nation active. More than a million tickets were sold for the Games, with millions more watching at home and Pavey highlighted parkrun as the ideal way to get into sport following the inspirational performances of the home nations' athletes.

Ad Parkrun is the UK's biggest mass participation community event, having so far benefitted from over £3.6 million in National Lottery funding, it encourages people of all ages and abilities to walk, jog, run and volunteer at their local events every weekend. AthleticsEilish McColgan backed for Olympic success in 2024AN HOUR AGO «We've had such a brilliant summer of sport with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but also the Lionesses win, it's just been so inspiring,» the 2014 European 10,000m champion said.

«And it is a brilliant time to encourage people to get down to their local parkrun, because there have been so many brilliant sporting moments that have encouraged people to think, oh, I want to get out there for myself. »And parkrun is a brilliant way to do that because it does not matter how quick you run, it is all about taking part, enjoying being active.

«So, we are trying to encourage people that have been inspired by these brilliant moments to get down to their local parkrun this weekend, whether they want to do it with the kids, or whether they want to just challenge themselves, it is just a brilliant thing to do. »With The National Lottery, it is really the power behind sport in this country, because they've invested over £5.7billion into grassroots sport and this really is one of the ways we're finding these future champions, but more than anything