Sports aces help get the ball rolling for National Year of Reading | Books | Entertainment

Some of Britain’s best-known sports personalities are backing the National Year of Reading with the Summer of Sport initiative, it has been announced. Running from June through August, the Go All In campaign will harness the nation’s passion for sport to help embed regular reading habits.

Activity linked to a packed sporting calendar including Test Match Cricket, the World Cup, Wimbledon, Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the Women’s T20 World Cup, and the Commonwealth Games in August. Go All In Team Captains will include broadcaster and presenter Clare Balding, tennis legend Tim Henman, England footballer Georgia Stanway, fitness coach and author Joe Wicks, Rugby League Captain Jodie Cunningham and F1 author and commentator Maurice Hamilton.

They will be sharing the stories behind the players, the sports and the tournaments to show how reading can bring fans closer to their sport. Tim Henman said: “We really want to encourage more kids to read and be inspired. For me as I’ve got older and started to read more, it’s been a great way to learn about different passions and different people. That experience and that greater knowledge I’ve found has been really rewarding.”

Georgia Stanway said: “For me, reading has always been a great way to stay motivated, learn something new and gain a different perspective. Whether it’s books, articles or stories about sport, I’m always looking for ideas and experiences that can help me grow both on and off the pitch.”

Joe Wicks said: “As a kid, exercise helped build my confidence, resilience and self-belief, and reading can do exactly the same. I’m really proud to support the Go All In Summer of Sport campaign because it’s about helping children discover the joy of stories, imagination and learning in a fun and positive way.

“If we can inspire even a few more young people to pick up a book this summer and realise that reading is for everyone, that’s a really wonderful thing.”

The National Year of Reading celebrates reading in all its forms, books, audiobooks, match day programmes, player statistics, manager autobiographies, graphic novels, comics and digital content, demonstrating that there is no single right way to read. The Summer of Sport initiative is a centrepiece of the National Year of Reading, the biggest campaign in a generation to inspire everyone in the UK to rediscover the joy of reading and embed it into everyday life.

Reading lists have been compiled which can be found on the National Year of Reading website. Split into helpful age categories, and with separate sections on specific sports, including football and cricket, you’ll find a wonderful selection of books, magazines, podcasts and picture books to read into.

David Hayman, Director of the National Year of Reading, said: ‘We’re using the power of sport to inspire a love of reading for millions of people of all ages across the UK, sharing the stories behind the medals, moments and matches. Sporting events are some of the most important national talking points of the year, moments that bring generations together.”