SCOTTISH swimmer Ross Murdoch has insisted the cost-of-living crisis could lead to a generation of young athletes being "shut out" of sport.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist - who represented Team GB at 2016 and 2020 Olympics - spoke of his concern as a survey of community sports organisations by charity Sported revealed fears over their ability to deliver grassroots sessions across Scotland.
Four out of five groups said they expect youngsters to be forced out of taking part in activities because their families are grappling to make ends meet as prices soar.
Meanwhile, almost all of the sports clubs surveyed expressed fears over their own viability, with the need to cut sessions and prices putting groups under increased pressure.
The UK-wide survey canvassed views from 500 clubs, the majority of which survive on less than £10,000 per year.
Murdoch said sport can change lives and kids being priced out could mean we see "less-rounded adults".
He said: “Covid wrecked the paths into sport for so many kids over a couple of years but now the cost-of-living crisis could shut out another generation from getting involved through clubs.
“I was lucky when I was younger in that there were free swimming classes at West Dunbartonshire. But even with a sport like swimming that’s accessible, there is still a price point where you can end up excluded.
“I didn’t come from money but my parents broke their backs to get me to swimming. So I know I could have been in that position where I might have been priced out of the opportunities that sport brings.
“And with the cost of living rising, there’s going to be problems in the likes of football or rugby or athletics where the costs of turning on the floodlights will be difficult for a lot of clubs. Or indoor sports with the venue costs going up.
“That’s really worrying because you see the power of sport and how it can change lives. It’s not just that kids can become less sporty. They need that socialisation with other kids. You learn how to build relationships, how to interact with other people, how to deal with conflict resolution — that all comes in one package.
"I know, for me, sport was the biggest way I learnt about myself.
"And if kids are priced out, we’ll see less-rounded adults. So it’s not just about health and wellbeing, it’s a societal issue as well.”
