The only way to eradicate racial inequality and make sport properly reflective of UK society is to “put inclusivity first, and build the sport system around it.”
That’s the view of Sport Wales CEO Sarah Powell in response to a major UK-wide review, commissioned by all five of the UK’s Sports Councils, which has made it clear that more must be done to tackle racism and racial inequalities within sport in the UK.
Published today, the Tackling Racism and Racial Inequalities in Sport Review saw consultancy AKD Solutions hear the sporting experiences of more than 300 people from ethnically diverse communities, while the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University analysed all existing data held by Sport Wales, UK Sport, Sport England, sportscotland and Sport Northern Ireland on race and ethnicity and sport.
Responding to the review, Sarah said: “Our goal is to ensure that everyone in Wales can have a lifelong enjoyment of sport. The review’s findings underline the fact that not enough is being done across the UK to make sport welcoming, inclusive, and diverse, so that people have positive experiences at every level. It’s been incredibly saddening to hear the impact that racism and racial inequality has had on individuals lives, resulting in ethnically diverse communities being consistently disadvantaged.
More will be done to tackle racism and racial inequalities in sport
The review’s findings underline the fact that not enough is being done across the UK to make sport welcoming, inclusive, and diverse, so that people have positive experiences at every level.
“This cannot continue to happen. Sport Wales and the entire Welsh sport sector need to re-think how we deliver sport in a truly inclusive manner in order to achieve transformational change. We have seen there’s been progress in small pockets, but we need a collective approach, from the sports pitches to the boardrooms, if we’re going to see sustained change.
“Acknowledging and accepting the findings of this review is just the first step, we now need to drive forward purposeful and prolonged action. We are extremely thankful to everyone who contributed to the review by sharing their personal stories and reliving past experiences. It was a process which we know for many will have been distressing. I can assure you we have listened, and your stories have been heard. We must ensure that the efforts of those individuals, organisations and communities who took part in the research was not in vain.
“There is a UK-wide commitment to use these pieces of research as a catalyst for long-term sustainable progress across all parts of the country, and Wales will play its part in this while ensuring that our specific actions meet the needs of our local communities.
“The review helps us to further understand the issues but should be seen as the start and not the end of our insight gathering. Sport Wales will continue learning with our partners, supporting and challenging each other to realise the change we all want to see. ”
Sport Wales is now developing a Wales-specific action plan, as Sarah explains: “Within Sport Wales specifically, our own actions will include making our funding easier for all communities to access, ensuring investment gets to where it is needed most.
“We are broadening our networks, and have already begun creating new partnerships with organisations and individuals who have a better understanding of the communities that we are seeking to engage with.
“We will support our partners to work more closely with ethnically diverse communities from the outset by co-designing any participation initiatives with them rather than for them. Over time, we hope this will help to build trust between ethnically diverse communities and sporting institutions.
“We will also utilise our respective governance frameworks to bring about more diverse representation at all levels of sport. We recognise there is more Sport Wales needs to do to attract a more diverse workforce, particularly in senior roles across the organisation. We also want to effect similar change throughout the entire sector, from grassroots to elite level, administration to governance, recruitment and retention. By having workforces and volunteers from more diverse backgrounds, Welsh sport can realise the benefits that come from a wider range of perspectives, experiences, skills and talents.”
Sarah added: “To the thousands of people involved in Welsh sport, whether you’re a participant, coach, worker, volunteer, parent, supporter, or a board member, we all have a role to play. We can all do our bit to make sport inclusive, fun, and welcoming to everyone.”
Chair of Sport Wales, Lawrence Conway, said: “We fully accept that we don’t have all the answers, so really want to work more closely with other organisations who have greater experience in this area, and with community leaders from the diverse communities that we want to engage with.
“Our approach will be fully transparent so that we can be held accountable for our actions. We will review and share progress regularly and will ensure that the conversations continue.
“Racism and racial inequalities are broader societal issues, but sport’s prominence means that it can play a significant role in helping to change attitudes and ending injustice. Sport can lead the way, but to do that we must keep on learning and asking ourselves difficult questions.”
