The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport ():...For a long time,
though, women were barred from boxing competitions. It was not
until 1997—so very recently—that the British Amateur Boxing
Association sanctioned its first boxing competition for women,
and the BBBofC sanctioned the first domestic professional fight
the following year. As we know, women’s boxing only fully entered
the Olympic games in 2012, so change can be slow to happen, but
women’s boxing appears to be on a clear upward trajectory, and
long may that continue. We want to help the sport nurture the
next superstars of the future and give everyone the opportunity
to take part, no matter their background. That is why we continue
to support our elite boxers through UK Sport funding. We also
support community boxing clubs across the country
through Sport
England funding and the National Lottery Community
Fund...
...Entities, particularly those that receive Government funding
or public money in some way, shape or form, such as
through Sport
England have an obligation and a duty—a
requirement, in fact—to make sure that they are truly open to
all, not discriminating and making efforts to be inclusive. If
they are not, they will not and should not get public money. Of
course, many other sports are private entities and
self-organising bodies, but we still expect them to put in place
parameters and governance structures through their governing
bodies to do the same things—to be inclusive and open to all...
...We know that it is not only boxing that is facing these
challenges. In June 2021, Sport
England UK Sport and the other home nations’
sports councils published the results of a detailed, independent
review into tackling racism and racial inequality in sport. The
review brought together data and gathered lived experiences of
racial inequalities and racism in the sector. The findings make
clear that racism and racial inequalities still exist within
sport in the UK—it is sad that I have to say that. These are
long-standing issues that have resulted in ethnically diverse
communities being consistently disadvantaged.
The sports councils agreed on a set of overarching commitments
that they will work on together, relating to people,
representation, investment, systems and insights. Updates on
progress are being provided every six months, and I am keen to
ensure this momentum is sustained over the long term. In
addition, last year, Sport
England and UK Sport published an updated version
of the code for sports governance that sets the standards all
sporting organisations must meet in return for public funding. As
I said, if they are not performing in that way, they should not
receive public funding.
The code has proved successful in setting clear expectations
around good governance and diversity since its launch in 2017.
However, four years on, I called on the two sports councils to
review the code with a particular focus on equality and
diversity, and that is what they have delivered. The updated code
places an increased focus on diversity in decision making and on
ensuring that sports organisations reflect the community they
serve.
The code now requires sports organisations to produce individual
diversity and inclusion action plans. These have to be agreed
by Sport
England and/or UK Sport, published and updated
annually. This process, combined with support provided by the
sports councils along the way, will help sports set clear
ambitions for improving diversity and inclusion throughout their
organisations, and not just at the senior board level...
To read the whole debate, CLICK HERE
