It is just over 120 days since the flame went out over the Olympic Park. Four months, give or take a day – but doesn't it feel like years?

The sports news agenda returns to the status quo so quickly and, apart from those wonderful end-of-year Sky News reviews or BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, it all feels like a magical dream from that wonderful summer of...when was it again..?

Twitter on New Year's Eve was full of people sharing Olympic memories. Masses of folk simply not wanting 2012 to end...so why are we letting that inspirational and motivational feeling fall away?

Too many people are quick to blame the Government, sports administrators, or even Lord Coe, for failing to deliver a meaningful legacy of increased sports participation from London 2012.


The truth, however, is that how to increase participation in sport is one of the most difficult questions to answer in Britain right now.

We are, largely, a sedentary nation.

We need a fundamental, cultural shift in how we view taking part in sport.

This change will not come from Sport England, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) or many of the leading brands. It will start in the home.

Parents – and I'm one who needs to do more – get active. Inspire your kids. Show them the joy that you felt in sport when you were their age.


You love sport, right? Of course you do. You wouldn't be on insidethegames if you didn't.

So how about you use that passion to inspire others and see the creation of the legacy as your responsibility.

The "2012 legacy" will not be delivered by any one sporting or Governmental organisation.

It will be delivered by you and me.

Steve Chisholm is a sports communications expert. He is a former partner at Fast Track and a producer with BBC Radio 5 Live