More Than Athletes: Cardiff Met’s Wider Role in the Team Wales Journey

Cardiff Met’s presence at the Team Wales Kitting Out days is being felt far beyond the athletes preparing to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Suzy Rattenberry-Drane, Chair of the Team Wales Athletes’ Commission and Senior Lecturer in Sport Development at Cardiff Met, spoke proudly about the University’s wider contribution during Kitting Out at the ICC in Newport. While a number of Cardiff Met-connected athletes are preparing to represent Wales this summer, Suzy highlighted that the University’s influence stretches across design, media, broadcast, digital support and athlete experience.

“I’m as passionate as they come talking about Cardiff Met,” said Suzy. “It’s not only being represented through athletes. We have a very talented individual who has designed the kit, but there were many others there that also presented their designs. We have students that have been helping out on pin badges, as well as the athlete app.”

That wider Cardiff Met story is one of the standout features of the Team Wales build-up. Alongside the athletes themselves, students and staff have helped shape elements of the Games experience, including the official kit design, digital support and the media activity surrounding Kitting Out. It reflects the range of talent across the University, from sport and performance to design, media, broadcast and technology.

For Suzy, who has experienced Commonwealth Games environments as an athlete and now helps represent the athlete voice through Team Wales, the moment was another reminder of Cardiff Met’s impact across Welsh sport. Speaking in her Team Wales role, she was clear that the connection goes beyond one event or one group of competitors.

“It’s not all about the athlete in terms of just the athletes that are competing from Cardiff Met,” she added. “It is the designers, it is you guys in broadcast and media that are going to be part of the days as well. I know I’m here on Team Wales duties, but that’s beyond Team Wales as well. Once an Archer, always an Archer.”

The phrase captures the feeling around Cardiff Met’s involvement this summer. Whether through athletes competing on the international stage, students helping tell the story, or graduates and staff contributing behind the scenes, Glasgow 2026 is another opportunity to show the depth of the Cardiff Met sporting community.

As Team Wales continues its final preparations for the Games, Suzy’s message is a reminder that major sporting moments are built by more than those who step onto the field of play. At Cardiff Met, the contribution is coming from across the University, with Archers helping shape the Team Wales journey in more ways than one.