THE slogan used to be join the Navy and see the world! It still is frequently quoted, and is associated in particular with the US Navy. Its aim was to highlight the opportunity to travel the world working in the navy offered, and its focus was to encourage young men and women to join up.
Well, I think the new slogan should be ‘Play sport and see the world’.
To be fair it is one of the other bonuses that being involved in sport gives you as it can offer you the prospect of visiting some of the most far flung places on earth, and that isn’t restricted just to players. Coaches, Officials, Administrators, supporters, they are also able to take up these opportunities.
Currently we have quite a few of our women ‘on duty’ abroad.
The Wildcats, Scotland’s National women’s cricket team, are currently in Sri Lanka participating in the WWC17 qualifier, Team Zariba, from Aberdeen, who are the British Synchronised Skating Champions are heading to France to compete in the Trophy D’Ecosse, while our women’s rugby are currently in the midst of the RBS Six Nations Championship which will see them travel to meet teams from Ireland, Wales, France, England and Italy.
And enjoying a well-deserved rest are Team Muirhead, our top Women’s Curling team who have recently returned from competing in Banff, Canada.
As well as experiencing a new culture, which in most cases is seen through the eyes and courtesy of the national organisation or club of the country you are visiting, a lot of our athletes have an added dimension to their trip, either by working with the local community or raising funds for a cause close to their heart back home.
Audrey McIntosh who ran the Genghis Khan Ice Marathon in Mongolia recently, used the opportunity to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Scotland a cause close to her heart.
Robyn Love, who hails from Ayr, is in the GB Wheelchair Basketball Squad who are currently in Japan, soaking up the culture and delivering some wheelchair basketball to the pupils at a Japanese Elementary School in Osaka.
Competition and travel go hand in hand, but it is not restricted to travelling abroad, as there are regular opportunities to visit a lot of different places in our own beautiful country.
How ashamed am I to say I hadn’t visited many of the wonderful places in Scotland before I worked in football.
Aberdeen, Inverness, The Borders, Orkney, some of the places that I had the pleasure of being introduced to.
Travel broadens the mind and is an education, one more good reason to get involved in sport.
While in football, I was in the privileged position of travelling not only with the women’s national squad but also the men’s squad and several youths squads.
Japan, Russia, Israel, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Hungary, Georgia, are just some of my destinations and the list goes on. It was a wonderful experience and to date I still keep in touch with many of the people I met on my travels. Travelling as part of a sports club ensures that you are meeting like-minded people, who are always happy and proud to show you their country.
Now while you may not be ready to sign on the dotted line today to join a sports club, but you are keen to give yourself a challenge, and get up from the couch and away from the TV, why not sign up to do the Kiltwalk?
There are different lengths of walk, so there is something for everyone and this year Scottish Women in Sport have registered to be one of the charities who will benefit from the kindness and generosity of strangers who take up these challenges.
Sir Tom Hunter, who is now taken the organisation under his wing, has agreed to donate 10% on top of all funds raised.
This year we are racking up our fund-raising efforts as we are a self-funded body and need to find ways of getting more money into our organisation; this seems like a perfect fit.
To find out more information and how to register, check out the website http://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here