AS WE look forward to 2015, hopefully we will see Newport building on its reputation as a sporting city.

At Rodney Parade, County are back in the Football League and seeking further promotion, while Newport Gwent Dragons are producing a wealth of promising young talent. These elite levels are supported by a priceless network of grassroots clubs, who are in turn backed by volunteers who lead the development of local rugby and football talent.

Similarly, we have a strong local cricket scene – which I know myself as player in the midweek league – with successful men's and women's teams attracting a raft of new members.

We also have a thriving running community, and local park runs are now taking place every Saturday morning at Tredegar House. As someone who enjoys running, it’s a real pleasure to see more and more fellow joggers out and about around the city, and I know that like me many will look forward to running the St David’s Foundation Newport Half Marathon again this year. The event was a real success in 2014, and it was great to see so many spectators lining the streets to watch the runners.

St David’s Foundation has also organised the brilliantly named ‘Tour-de-Gwent’ cycle ride which sets off on March 29. I’m sure the event will be a real success, and illustrates that the local cycling scene is going from strength to strength at the moment. There’s a feel-good factor around cycling in Gwent at the moment, and this has been added to by Newport cyclist Rob Shipley on his world-wide cycling fundraiser for Cancer Research.

Closer to home, the off-road route from Newport City Centre to Caerleon has been popular, and the new Active Travel Act passed by the Welsh Assembly Government has encouraged people to get out of their cars and onto their bikes and walking.

Away from more traditional sports, Newport also has its first all-female Roller Derby team – the Riot City Ravens. I attended a Ravens training session before Christmas and I’m sure that 2015 will be great year for the girls.

Our status as a sporting city is facilitated by infrastructure, and the International Sports Village – including the Velodrome, FAW Centre of Excellence, tennis centre and swimming pool – is a world-class facility we can all be proud of. The NISV is supported by other valued sports centres, including Newport Centre and the Active Living Centre, along with a network of parks and playing fields.

Soon we will also see a new Trust taking over Newport City Council’s leisure services, and for all involved this must represent an opportunity to take the council’s work forward with new energy, ideas and funding opportunities.

I wish all Argus readers a sporting, healthy and happy New Year.