The Glasgow 2026 Legacy Network came together again on Tuesday 26th May, hosted at the University of the West of Scotland’s Paisley Campus. Marking the Network’s third event, the theme was ‘inclusive sporting legacy’ and the evening provided a space for vital dialogue on what a legacy of inclusion might look like from the Games.
Kirsty McNab (Glasgow 2026) hosted the event, welcoming attendees and providing an update on Games preparation – with just less than two months to go before the Opening Ceremony on 23rd July. This was followed by a welcome to the campus from Zara Grant, who is currently conducting a PhD Studentship with UWS on the social impact of the Games, and is situated as an embedded researcher within the Glasgow 2026 Organising Company.
In a discussion led by Alex Johnston (Glasgow 2026), representatives from the National EDI Group then shared their perspectives on the current state of inclusion across their various organisations and the Scottish context. This was a highlight of the evening, with the panel featuring Munro Stevenson (LEAP Sports), Robert Nesbitt (SAMH), Maureen McGonigle (Scottish Women in Sport), Rohini Sharma Joshi OBE (Age Scotland), and Dougie Millen (Scottish Sports Futures). A key takeaway was that equality cannot be achieved solely by holding meetings and discussions. Instead, there is a need to move beyond talking and into action, ‘doing the doing’ rather than ‘doing the document’. Emphasis was placed on listening to individuals’ lived experiences to be better equipped to meet their needs and remove barriers to participation – both across sport and society.
Next, Dr Callum McCloskey (CCSE) invited attendees to consider the question: “What does an inclusive legacy look like for you?” This prompted lively discussions across the room, with several individuals suggesting that the ultimate inclusive legacy would be the achievement of equality for all – rendering their organisations and campaigns for inclusion in sport obsolete.
Liz Carlin (CCSE) then joined Professor David McGillivray to share about impact and learning from Commonwealth Sport’s GAPS Programme – and plans for UWS to host the GAPS training camp for para-athletes at its Ayr campus in the lead-up to the Games.
Before the evening drew to a close, Grace Stirling spoke about her role as Schools Programme Manager at Glasgow 2026 and facilitated a quick-fire round of ‘lightning talks’, wherein individuals presented a 3-minute synopsis on the Games-related programmes and activities their organisations have planned. This was a great opportunity to hear about the myriad of projects and events taking place to ensure that the legacy of the 2026 Games impacts the lives of as many as possible, across the city and beyond.
If you are interested in signing up to the network, access this link: Join the Legacy Network – Fill out form
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