Merton athlete supported by the GLL Sport Foundation heads for Birmingham 2022
400m Hurdler, Chris McAlister aged 27 from Merton supported by the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme will be competing at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
Chris will compete as one of this year’s 145 GSF supported athletes who will take part in a variety of different sports - including athletics, boxing, netball, para-athletics, swimming, para table tennis and triathlon.
The GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) is the UK’s largest independent athlete support programme which is designed to give young talented athletes a range of funding, access to sports facilities and athlete support services. The GSF work in partnership with SportsAid, SportsAid Wales and the Mary Peters Trust in Northern Ireland as well as numerous sporting, medical and local authority partners.
In 2022 over 1,500 talented athletes are being funded by the GSF, of which an 87% receive no other centralised or independent funding or assistance. The GSF support has provided a lifeline to the athletes and an inspiration to other young people in local communities particularly as sport training and competition emerges from the Covid pandemic.
They also provide a support network for a growing number of talented athletes heading to national and international competition.
Chris said: "For a number of years I have been supported by GSF, through some tough times in the sport and my development into an elite athlete. The training support at my local gyms has allowed me to train flexibly around my work and supported my ability to earn alongside elite sport. The scheme was the first and most long lasting support I’ve ever had, it really encouraged me to kick on and pushed me to believe in myself as I looked up to some of its amazing ambassadors. Many thanks for the continued support! It really has meant a lot to me."
Peter Bundey, GSF Chair, paid tribute to the GSF athlete award holders heading to Birmingham:
“We are proud to be supporting so many talented athletes – including Chris McAlister that will be competing for their countries in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.
“They exemplify the very best of our communities and embody the spirit of our social enterprise philosophy and I wish them the very best of luck.
“I want to thank our sponsors, partners and supporters for helping give these athletes a welcome boost and allowing them to continue the richly diverse sports they love and excel in.”
The GSF is the brain-child of GLL, the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise delivering sport, leisure, culture, health and community facilities.
Charitable social enterprise GLL operates 260 sport and leisure facilities across the UK in partnership with 42 local authorities and sporting bodies. These venues span the UK from Belfast to Bournemouth and from Cardiff to Carlisle to Cornwall.
GLL managed centres operate under the consumer brand ‘Better’, each one offers leisure, fitness and wellbeing – with gym, swim, classes, courts and pitches to enjoy, indoors and out – or family fun during summer staycations at lidos, trampoline parks and watersport centres.