The Gardeners' World Blog

This coming Monday, 10 September sees the start of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China - England are there and hopes are high of a successful tournament for Hope Powell's side.

It is the first time in 12 years that England have reached the World Cup finals. Back then, in Sweden in 1995, England got to the last eight where they fell 3-0 to eventual finalists Germany.

This time around, Germany are placed alongside England, Argentina and Japan in Group A. The Germans remain a major power in women's football, Birgit Prinz and her side are reigning World Cup and European champions and start this tournament second-favourites behind the USA.

I don’t know if you can hear that distant rumbling but that’s the sound of a British team gathering momentum and starting to become a force on the world stage ahead of 2012.

For years, gymnastics was a sport everyone would watch with awe at the Olympics, watch other countries take home the medals and then watch it disappear over the horizon for another four years.

But then along came Beth Tweddle and with every final she made and every medal she won, our expectations grew and grew, culminating in that extraordinary night in Denmark last October.

I’m lucky enough to have a job that takes me to some of the greatest sporting events that the calendar throws up. Watching that 90-second routine on the uneven bars from the commentary box in Aarhus will always be imprinted in my mind as one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen. She became Britain’s first gymnastics world champion with a display of the utmost talent, poise and sheer force of will.

There’s been a lot of talk about role models recently – and sport can play its part too.

Boxer Amir Khan has been doing his bit, launching the BBC’S Sports Unsung Hero award for 2007.

The Olympic silver medallist is one of 15 ambassadors helping to promote the search for volunteers who make a real difference to sport in your region.

Sporting greats Matthew Pinsent, Colin Jackson and Dame Mary Peters are among other regional ambassadors.