Sport and politics have been two key themes of my life. Part of my first degree dissertation at Loughborough was about the parties and their policies on sport and recreation.

I well remember a Conservative MP being particularly helpful, entertaining me in the House and supplying much party policy, for which I was grateful, but not grateful enough to accept his invitation to a weekend ‘tumbling’ at his Dorset home!

It is perhaps fortunate for me therefore that there is such a close connection between the two.

This is written days before the Olympics are due to start in Tokyo and the Lions play their first test in South Africa, and days after England were beaten on penalties in the European Cup Final.

It’s certainly a busy, and very welcome, summer of sport, a highly desirable distraction from the problems of Coronavirus.

These events and numerous equivalents are now heavily politicised, as indeed sport always has been. The Russian invasion of Hungary in 1956 resulted quite literally in a blood bath of an infamous water polo Olympic semi final in Melbourne. In 1968. Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos, black medal winners, were loudly booed and then sent home from the Olympics for their podium protest against racism.

Sadly, little has changed. In recent days black English footballers have been hideously abused on social media (and elsewhere) by racist morons, encouraged in part by right wing politicians. Lewis Hamilton, the world Formula 1 racing champion has similarly been a victim of hatred.

Earlier this year tennis star Naomi Osaka joined the Black Lives Matter movement and has been attacked ever since.

She articulated her rights and that of all to speak out for their beliefs and grievances when she is quoted as saying: ‘Everyone should have a voice in the matter and use it,’ before rubbishing calls that forbid athletes from speaking out on politics, human rights and social issues.

Surely athletes, just as much as anyone else... you and I.... have every right to an opinion and a right to express it. Racist abuse, along with all other prejudice based attacks, are not simply ‘happening elsewhere’ but are increasing here in Teignbridge. Shame on those responsible.

Sport cannot be ‘outside’ politics, because my contention is that politics is simply everywhere and involved in literally everything. To claim that sport and politics don’t mix is simply naive in the extreme.

Sport and politics are inextricably linked, just as much as the air we breath and the food we eat...everything is political.

Nelson Mandela got it absolutely right, when he said: ‘Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.’

So, as we sit back and enjoy the Olympics or the Lions, Test cricket, or the new football season, can I implore one and all to be inspired by the outstanding sporting skill and excitement but to denounce the bigotry and intolerance of minority groups that threatens the social cohesion of our nation.