Both and for 2012
What a weekend! Team GB really delivered the goods with medals in cycling, rowing, swimming and even gymnastics. I've heard many people doubt that the target for 2012 of 4th in the medal table is impossible - well I think the last few days have shown that it's not. Already GB is 4th after a heady couple of days at 3rd, and whilst there is still a week of competition to go, it looks like this can be the best ever modern Games for GB.
So winning medals IS possible, and the current results show that UK Sport, many of the Governing Bodies, and the BOA are on the right track. I'm coming to think that the far harder challenge is UK Sport's second objective for 2012 - to deliver a sustainable legacy for British sport. And both challenges, 4th in the medal table and the legacy, need to be met by a relatively small core of people working across elite sport. This becomes a real leadership test - to deliver a succesful project AND to build or transform a system. It seems to me that success will only come if we can help develop the right sort of leadership and management skills, the skills that can underpin some smart systems thinking, build the right performance culture, and do some nifty integration across the complex field that is sport in this country. I'm feeling very excited about the coming months, when I'll be doing my bit through Mission 2012 and working with sports to take on BOTH challenges for 2012.
