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For generations, young people in sport have been described as “the future.” The phrase is repeated constantly across conferences, campaigns and development programmes. Young people are encouraged to participate, to dream, to aspire and to prepare themselves for the future of sport. But too often, they are still excluded from the spaces where decisions are actually made. Policies affecting young people are frequently developed without youth voices in the room. Conversations about athlete welfare, inclusion, safeguarding and the future of sport are still commonly led by older generations, while young people remain positioned as participants rather than contributors. Their presence …

The meeting starts as it always does. A long table. Laptops open. Papers neatly stacked. Everyone in the room is experienced, qualified, confident in what they are there to say. They are here to design a policy on athlete well-being. The conversation moves quickly. Safeguarding procedures are discussed. Reporting systems are mapped out. Language is carefully chosen. On paper, everything is thorough, considered, complete. But as the discussion continues, something becomes clear. Not a single young athlete is in the room. It is a crucial detail, yet easy to overlook. The people present are experts. They understand policy, governance and …

Sport is meant to be one of the few spaces that belongs to everyone. It is where differences are put aside, where people come together, where opportunity is supposed to be equal. That is the story we are told. But for many young people, that story does not match their reality. For some, the barrier is immediate. The cost of equipment, club fees, travel and facilities adds up quickly, and for families already under pressure, sport is not always possible. It is not a lack of interest that keeps young people away, it is the simple fact that access comes …