Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, shadow sports minister / matt crossick / press association
When Jeremy Corbyn won the latest Labour leadership contest in September – increasing his already significant authority – he was given the opportunity to form a new shadow cabinet.
While old party stalwarts like Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry received top roles shadowing secretaries of state in domestic and foreign affairs respectively, Corbyn plumped for several newer members of parliament to take up shadow positions.
One of Labour’s latest intake of MPs, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan was appointed shadow sports minister by new shadow culture secretary Tom Watson. The promotion illustrates quite a rise for the “working-class, half Polish/half Pakistani” Allin-Khan, who was only elected in the spring after the previous MP for Tooting, Sadiq Khan, became London mayor.
Passion for sport Despite her relative inexperience in politics, the sports brief is one Allin-Khan is relishing already, and she appears to have all the credentials to succeed.
“I’ve been a sportsperson all my life actually,” she tells Sports Management. “I represented my school in a number of sports, including cricket and athletics. Then when I went to uni I played football and basketball, and at medical school I played football and korfball.”
Allin-Khan also began to develop an interest in boxing towards the end of her time at medical school as, unlike team sports, it fit in with her busy lifestyle working in a hospital. She is now the team doctor at her local boxing club in Balham, South London, where she also trains. It is here that Allin-Khan properly realised the power of sport in wider society.
“I see sport as a fantastic way to bridge equality gaps and to tackle issues such as mental health, obesity and general wellbeing,” Allin-Khan explains.
“But I think it’s really important to look at the difference between sport and physical activity because sport isn’t for everyone. I was really lucky because I was good at sport at school, but I know that PE lessons where two captains have to pick a team can be a really daunting time for any child.”
Despite being good at a number of sports, Allin-Khan wasn’t immune to feeling left out, and developed an understanding of the importance of physical activity for those who are not comfortable with or who simply do not enjoy playing competitive sport.
“I didn’t swim very much as a child and when we started swimming lessons at school I was in the bottom class. I know that it can feel very intimidating. If there’s a sport you’re not deemed to be good at, it can be quite a discriminator,” she says.
“Physical activity is a way we can engage hard-to-reach groups like over-50s and young children without feeling there’s a competitive edge to it. We need to promote physical activity at the extremes of age.”
A healthy investment During her time working as a doctor, Allin-Khan saw first hand what a sedentary lifestyle can do to people. While she admits it’s difficult to quantify the extent to which physical activity would have prevented the ailments of her patients, she is convinced that investment in sport and physical activity strategies can lessen the burden on the NHS. She explains: “When you see people coming into hospital who’ve had heart attacks, who have diabetes, mental health problems, problems with alcoholism – all the research shows that being fit and healthy and active improves outcomes in all of these groups.”
Social cohesion is also an issue close to Allin-Khan’s heart, and she talks fondly about some of the initiatives Balham Boxing Club has developed to ensure it is accessible to everyone in the community.
“The club has sessions for under-11s, youth groups and white collar boxing where anybody can come and train,” she says. “Rather than advertise the boxing element, they talk about the benefits of training and keeping fit. You don’t even have to get into the ring.
“In my role I apply as much pressure as possible to ensure sport and physical activity is accessible to everyone,” she adds, explaining that she is intent on working with local authorities to demonstrate the benefits of investing in physical activity. Taking money out of physical activity, she says, is a “false economy”.
“More will need to be spent on social services for young children, as evidence shows that if we don’t invest in the early years then more money gets spent on social care later on,” she says.
“More money will be spent on older people in the NHS, and mental health is a classic example. The mental health budget is being cut and everyone is feeling the squeeze. I’ve seen first hand as a doctor just what physical activity can do for rates of depression. It can get people back in the workforce, increase their self-esteem and improve the local economy.”
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, shadow sports minister / matt crossick / press association
When Jeremy Corbyn won the latest Labour leadership contest in September – increasing his already significant authority – he was given the opportunity to form a new shadow cabinet.
While old party stalwarts like Diane Abbott and Emily Thornberry received top roles shadowing secretaries of state in domestic and foreign affairs respectively, Corbyn plumped for several newer members of parliament to take up shadow positions.
One of Labour’s latest intake of MPs, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan was appointed shadow sports minister by new shadow culture secretary Tom Watson. The promotion illustrates quite a rise for the “working-class, half Polish/half Pakistani” Allin-Khan, who was only elected in the spring after the previous MP for Tooting, Sadiq Khan, became London mayor.
Passion for sport Despite her relative inexperience in politics, the sports brief is one Allin-Khan is relishing already, and she appears to have all the credentials to succeed.
“I’ve been a sportsperson all my life actually,” she tells Sports Management. “I represented my school in a number of sports, including cricket and athletics. Then when I went to uni I played football and basketball, and at medical school I played football and korfball.”
Allin-Khan also began to develop an interest in boxing towards the end of her time at medical school as, unlike team sports, it fit in with her busy lifestyle working in a hospital. She is now the team doctor at her local boxing club in Balham, South London, where she also trains. It is here that Allin-Khan properly realised the power of sport in wider society.
“I see sport as a fantastic way to bridge equality gaps and to tackle issues such as mental health, obesity and general wellbeing,” Allin-Khan explains.
“But I think it’s really important to look at the difference between sport and physical activity because sport isn’t for everyone. I was really lucky because I was good at sport at school, but I know that PE lessons where two captains have to pick a team can be a really daunting time for any child.”
Despite being good at a number of sports, Allin-Khan wasn’t immune to feeling left out, and developed an understanding of the importance of physical activity for those who are not comfortable with or who simply do not enjoy playing competitive sport.
“I didn’t swim very much as a child and when we started swimming lessons at school I was in the bottom class. I know that it can feel very intimidating. If there’s a sport you’re not deemed to be good at, it can be quite a discriminator,” she says.
“Physical activity is a way we can engage hard-to-reach groups like over-50s and young children without feeling there’s a competitive edge to it. We need to promote physical activity at the extremes of age.”
A healthy investment During her time working as a doctor, Allin-Khan saw first hand what a sedentary lifestyle can do to people. While she admits it’s difficult to quantify the extent to which physical activity would have prevented the ailments of her patients, she is convinced that investment in sport and physical activity strategies can lessen the burden on the NHS. She explains: “When you see people coming into hospital who’ve had heart attacks, who have diabetes, mental health problems, problems with alcoholism – all the research shows that being fit and healthy and active improves outcomes in all of these groups.”
Social cohesion is also an issue close to Allin-Khan’s heart, and she talks fondly about some of the initiatives Balham Boxing Club has developed to ensure it is accessible to everyone in the community.
“The club has sessions for under-11s, youth groups and white collar boxing where anybody can come and train,” she says. “Rather than advertise the boxing element, they talk about the benefits of training and keeping fit. You don’t even have to get into the ring.
“In my role I apply as much pressure as possible to ensure sport and physical activity is accessible to everyone,” she adds, explaining that she is intent on working with local authorities to demonstrate the benefits of investing in physical activity. Taking money out of physical activity, she says, is a “false economy”.
“More will need to be spent on social services for young children, as evidence shows that if we don’t invest in the early years then more money gets spent on social care later on,” she says.
“More money will be spent on older people in the NHS, and mental health is a classic example. The mental health budget is being cut and everyone is feeling the squeeze. I’ve seen first hand as a doctor just what physical activity can do for rates of depression. It can get people back in the workforce, increase their self-esteem and improve the local economy.”
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Barr + Wray Ltd Barr + Wray has more than 60 years’ experience in the design and delivery of world-class spa and wel [more...]
