Playing sports is beneficial physically, but how would you say it's helpful emotionally and practically?
Playing sports takes your mind off everything and you are totally engrossed in that activity. Endorphins are produced which helps to block pain and increase feelings of wellbeing and can help to relieve stress. Sport is something you can do on your own, you don’t necessarily need another person or team. I played and coached basketball for over 40 years and I can honestly say there is no better feeling than participating with a group of like minded people, ‘you win together and you lose together’ and that’s a ‘Team’.
What advice would you give someone who has not previously played sports, who would like to give it a try, but might feel a bit intimidated?
If someone is keen to give sports a try, I would always tell them to go and have a look as a spectator first to see if it is for them. Encourage someone close to you to join also. Talk to people who are already in a club or team and find out how they are doing. Volunteer at a local club, school or centre if you really don’t feel sports is for you, as just being a part of the team will still give you a sense of belonging and enjoyment too!!
What did it feel like to be involved with the London Olympics?
Being involved with London 2012 was one of the highlights of my sporting career. I always watched the Olympics growing up as a youngster and adult. My first experience of an Olympics was Barcelona 1992 and I was there to watch the USA Men's basketball ‘Dream Team’ with the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley…..(to name my starting 5) win Gold!!! So naturally when I heard that Great Britain was getting the games I immediately filled in an application and went through the very rigorous process of being a ‘Games Maker’ and was very fortunate to be ‘Team Liaison’ for the Australian Women’s Basketball team. This meant I got to spend the whole time with the team whilst they were in the country and looking after them 24/7 which was an honour and a privilege to do so. They finished the tournament with a bronze medal and I felt just as proud having been involved from the start to finish. There was a real feel good feeling in and around London particularly, everywhere you went people would ask what your involvement was as we all had to wear the uniform and all the ‘Games Makers’ felt very proud to wear it and give something back to sports and the country.
What benefits did your sports background bring to your time on The Traitors?
Playing sports was so integral to my game play on ‘The Traitors’ because you had to be mentally fit and by this I mean, strong at the ‘Round Table’ particularly when you were being accused of being a ‘Traitor’ you had to defend yourself and be convincing, like being a leader or point guard on a basketball team. Being a ‘faithful’ you had to be tactful with the way you approached others and asked questions, because the wrong move would lead to the misinterpretation of the situation and you being banished or murdered from the game. Teamwork is vitally important as a ‘faithful’ as you need others to respect and trust you at all times. Being a good communicator is of importance too, because in most team sports this role is key to either being successful or not, as instructions need to be delivered well.
You have recently become an ambassador for Lawrence Dallaglio’s charity, Dallaglio RugbyWorks, can you tell us a bit more about that and what your role entails?
The charity's mission is to work with young people aged 12-18 who have been excluded from school to help support them in realising their full potential for the future, developing life skills, raising aspirations, improving physical well-being, and focusing on mental well-being.
My role is relatively new, so I am very keen to use my platform to spread the word further afield about the amazing work that is being done by this charity. It would be an amazing achievement if there was a DRW hub in every County in the next few years.
To find out more about Dallaglio RugbyWorks: www.dallagliorugbyworks.com
Follow Fay Greaves: www.instagram.com/radiogirlz/
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