The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) and its members are deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty The Queen.
Throughout her life, Her Majesty had a very close connection to sport.
She was widely considered as one of history’s greatest and most influential supporters of horse racing, with the sport becoming one of her main leisure time activities. She was also a long-standing patron of the British Olympic Association and a passionate supporter of the Olympic Movement in general.
The impact of Her Majesty’s high-profile support for the London 2012 Olympic Games – and her unforgettable appearance at the opening ceremony – cannot be underestimated.
She was also a patron of The Football Association and regularly appeared at Wembley stadium during important games. None more so than during 1966, when she handed England captain Bobby Moore the Jules Rimet Cup, following the team’s win in the FIFA World Cup final.
Her Majesty passed her love for sport to her children and grandchildren too. Her daughter, Princess Anne, established herself as a respected equestrian, winning European Eventing Championships and, in 1976, becoming the first member of the British royal family to have competed in the Olympic Games. The Queen’s granddaughter, Zara, went one better than her mother, winning a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics as part of the Great Britain Eventing Team.
Both Prince William and Prince Harry, Her Majesty’s grandsons, are established polo players and both are actively heavily involved in a number of sports as ambassadors. William has been particularly visible in his role as President of The Football Association, while Harry is the founder of Invictus Games.
SAPCA CEO, Richard Shaw, said: “On behalf of all SAPCA members, we join the rest of the nation and people across the world in mourning the passing of our Queen, Elizabeth II.
“The thoughts of everybody at SAPCA are with the Royal Family at this sad time for our country.”