Scott BAILEY: “What really stood out was the brotherhood you see through sport”

British athlete Scott Bailey, who competed in the Blind SAMBO discipline at the World Cup in Yerevan in April, shared his impressions of the tournament. His comments were published on the British Blind Sport social media page.

“I was the only British athlete competing. At times it felt quite isolating, but I really want to say a massive thank you to the Russian SAMBO team – on the day of the competition they sat with me and made a real effort to include me in everything despite the language barrier. There was plenty of laughter, translation apps being used back and forth, and even sharing food together, which made a huge difference to the whole experience.

What really stood out was the brotherhood you see through sport and shared experience. It goes far beyond competition, it is about respect, connection, and humanity. In those moments, none of the usual divisions matter. What you are left with is something real and authentic, people meeting people, respecting effort, and connecting beyond all the noise. And for me, that is the real power of sport and travel with an open mind and what it should always represent.

Win, lose or draw, sport is never just about the result. It is about the journey you go on, the travel, the places you get to see, the experiences you collect along the way, and the people you meet in different parts of the world. Most importantly, it is about the friendships formed in those moments and the connections that go far beyond competition – those are the things that stay with you long after the event is over, and they are what last a lifetime,” Scott Bailey shared.