Sporting Equals announce new Trustee appointments

Following on from the announcement of its new Chair, Dr Howard Haughton, Sporting Equals has welcomed four new trustees to their team.

Sporting Equals announced as official charity partners for Kabaddi World Cup 2025

Sporting Equals have just announced its role as the official charity partner for the Kabaddi World Cup 2025.

Sporting Equals announces leadership change

The Board of Trustees of Sporting Equals, a leading voice for race equality in sport and physical activity, confirm the departure of CEO, Arun Kang and thank him for his positive contributions to the work of the Charity.

Sporting Equals Awards nominations set to open

The ninth edition of the awards celebrates excellence, inspires change and drives race equity across sport.

Sporting Equals BAME Terminology Survey Statement

There has been a growing concern and appetite for change when looking at terminology and language surrounding how we describe the communities impacted by racial discrimination. The mainstream term in use is Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME). The problem with BAME, and other now outdated phrases as terminology, is that there are issues of generic and casual branding of communities. This is whilst also avoiding the varying issues impacting specific communities in more severe ways, as highlighted by the recent advocation for change through Black Lives Matter. The term BAME also leaves room for ambiguity and confusion around ethnicity, geography and nationality.

The term BAME collates large swathes of groups together and places recognition on some communities whilst ignoring others entirely. The emphasis of such behaviours tends to be on the physical differences of some while relegating ethnic and cultural complexities. The insinuation that any of the communities impacted by racial discrimination are simply 'minority' ethnic groups is uncomfortable for many due to the negative connotations that are attached to the word minority, which subconsciously makes ethnic groups seem inferior to white counterparts, and connotes a general negative subtext.

This is as well as the idea that all communities and individuals who fit into the umbrella term of 'BAME,' are impacted the same way by racism. These wide and non-specific groupings fail to recognise the multiple complex strands of diverse cultures. What we need to do is get specific and avoid the use of umbrella terminology where possible.

Systematic racism is incredibly complex and to tackle it effectively, we need terminology which is more specific to the communities experiencing racism in order to improve inclusivity. We believe the term BAME is too generic and allows organisations to hide behind this term to cover up underrepresentation and racial discrimination of specific ethnic groups. The only way we can begin to unpick and deconstruct the systematic racism and discrimination towards these varied communities, is by recognising specific communities, their underrepresentation and the experience they face with racism.

We must reflect on their experiences, work with them to resolve these issues and develop best practice. The first step to take is to stop using BAME and other such problematic terminology and to start looking at these communities in a more detailed way and identify them as specific groups, with an intersectional approach to identify any forms of multiple discrimination taking place. We must measure engagement from the varied communities more effectively and become accountable for the shortfalls to develop a more anti-racist approach.

We as a sector must recognise and highlight the varying and often multi-layered forms of discrimination and racism impacting communities. There are issues that would impact South Asians differently to the African or Caribbean communities, and within those communities are even more intersects of diversity that need to be recognised from ethnicity to intersectionality.

We need to be willing to embrace diversity as organisations and individuals, by knowing the communities we serve and once we do that; we need to understand and accept the diversity and complexity that communities and individuals self-identify as. Without this focus on measuring specific communities we will continue to fail to eradicate discrimination and exclusion. Being specific regarding the communities and individuals who are in need of support and engagement is the way forward. Sporting Equals recognised the weaknesses and hinderances of terminology and conducted a survey in October to aid in the development of best practice for our sector.

Our initial consultation was to our Associate Member network base of over 200 grassroots organisations in building our response to this call for evidence. This group represents 150,000 service users and almost 4,000 volunteers. The consultation reinforced our view that communities would prefer more specific definition of their identities. However, the communities also recognised and agreed that for organisational administrative purposes, they would be happy for a more sensitive and respectful term to be adopted.

The terms which were most highly favoured by our members included Diverse Ethnic Communities or Ethnically Diverse Communities, these terms allow the terminology to have more positive and broader spectrum. This is to ensure that organisations must become more specific as a result. We are placing the responsibility of specificity on our organisations and bodies of power to adopt these phrases, but then further specify the level of detail as to which groups they are engaging and why. These phrases require more detail and specification than an acronym like BAME. Diversity is the first and foremost point of importance, we need to recognise the diversity between the communities from their cultural diversity to their experiences of racism. But we must be wary to not use these terms in a casual and dismissive way. When speaking of research, marketing, engagement, and targets we must be very clear about which specific groups we are seeking to engage. We cannot continue to casually group people consistently with umbrella terminology – there must be a justified administrative or bureaucratic reason.

Following this, we at Sporting Equals will take this matter further consulting on where we should limit its usage, and we will then develop best practice to assist in cultivating a more welcoming sector for all communities. We must remember none of us win unless all of us win and with each of these changes we get one step closer to an inclusive and equal sector for all.

Sporting Equals launches MenoFit: a national movement for equitable menopause support

Sporting Equals has officially launched MenoFit, a groundbreaking new initiative designed to make menopause visible and supported across every community in the UK.

Sporting Equals Statement Response to UK Home Sports Councils’ Race in Sport Review

In light of the recent statement, report and review by the Home Sports Councils we at Sporting Equals wanted to highlight a few points we feel are important to reflect on. We have seen a definitive shift post the summer of 2020 Black Lives Matter protests regarding how society began to view and discuss race. This had impact across all walks of life and for organisations such as ours this marked a point in time where real progress in terms of introspection and intervention could finally begin. 

We witnessed many organisations reach out to us to engage in dialogue with people wanting to learn how they can be anti-racist to create truly equal and inclusive spaces. For our organisation it meant the beginning of many community consultations to inform and develop tangible interventions which we have worked to present, deliver and instil in sport in the UK. 

Sporting Equals wanted to take this opportunity to thank and support the Home Sports Councils in their recognition and dedication to resolving the historic issues of racism within sport in the UK. Their adoption and support towards our terminology work within their report, which highlights the need to retire outdated terminology such as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic 'BAME' and use specific terminology or where ethically justifiable the community supported phrases – ethnically diverse communities and diverse ethnic communities. This is significant for all the communities who have supported and informed our work on terminology, to have their views reflected in language changes to allow for respectful and relatable engagement. This is an important first step to our sector becoming an evolved and equal space for all. 
 

We really welcome the five common themes for action that have been reached as a result of the review undertaken. Similar themes were identified within our racism in sport survey, and we feel that Sporting Equals is uniquely placed to assist and enable the Home Sports Councils to achieve and deliver meaningful interventions. The five key areas that require meaningful reflection and commitment to change – the internal system of sport, representation, workforce, insight and investment. It is our sincere hope that with time the commitment to the agenda of racial equality and wider equality in sport does not waver and future actions which are yet to be determined, have a resonating impact for the communities we serve.
 

Throughout our time as the UK's leading sports racial equality charity, we have become all too familiar with the issues that have contributed to the systematic racism that the Home Sports Councils report acknowledges. Prior to the summer Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, we have been working to ensure that we have captured insight before mapping interventions and actions through the Sporting Equals Charter. We have also been working to improve issues around the lack of diversity in workforce and representation through our LeaderBoard Academy. This project enables individuals from ethnically diverse communities to develop their leadership skills and reflect on lived and learned experiences to become pragmatic yet empathetic and knowledgeably anti-racist board members who are more than capable and ready to influence the change outlined in the Home Sports Councils' report.

In the coming months Sporting Equals will be actively working with our Sport Monitoring Advisory Panel to develop and administer the Race Report Card. This initiative will enable us to spotlight key steps already being taken by bodies in the sport sector. As well as determine an accurate picture of the demographic landscape of decision making-roles, the workforce and talent which we feel will be valuable to assist informing future actions for the Home Sports Councils' post the Race in Sport Review. The issue of race and racism is a historic and systematic one which requires real focus, commitment and dedication. We are encouraged to see the reflection and dedication from the Home Sports Councils and hope that moving forward they will seek the support of experienced organisations who have been driving and leading the calls for change. That they engage with organisations across the UK who have appropriate expertise and a view from grassroot level right through to the boardroom to ensure that the committed actions have the real impact and consistency necessary for change. 
 

Sporting Equals look forward to seeing the tangible actions and outcomes from this initial review in addition to continuing to see how we can further work as a sector to measure, reflect and hold ourselves accountable in order to deliver better outcomes for the communities we serve. We are glad to see that the Home Sports Councils have sustained the momentum with this review and report, our sincere hope is that this will continue to inform and allow for real engagement and change.  

Sporting legends announced as newest Members of Laureus World Sports Academy

Four of the greatest sports stars of our generation are officially announced today as members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. Three formidable giants of women’s sport – Lindsey Vonn, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Nicol David – join Paralympic hero Daniel Dias in the most exclusive team in sport, pledged to use the power of sport to improve the lives of young people around the world.

The news was announced two days before the Winners of the 2021 Laureus World Sports Awards are to be unveiled from Seville on May 6, and brings the number of Laureus Academy Members to 71.

The new Academy Members add further best-in-class achievement to the Laureus movement:

LINDSEY VONN was honoured by the Laureus Academy in 2019 with the Spirit of Sport Award to mark the end of her remarkable career as the greatest women’s Alpine skier of all time. She won four Overall World Cups, one of only two female skiers to do so, and a record eight World Cup downhill titles in a total of 20 World Cup crystal globes, surpassing Ingemar Stenmark. She won the Olympic downhill gold medal and super g bronze in 2010 which led to her receiving the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award. She has won eight world championship medals, including two golds. Her total of 82 World Cup race victories is a women's record. She won in all five disciplines.

Lindsey said: “I feel incredibly honoured to be one of this year’s Laureus World Sports Academy Member inductees. Laureus Members have always represented best-in-class athletes who use their tremendous superpowers to create good and positive change in the world. As an athlete, one can strive to be the best, but for me, what has always been most important is to help people along their journey. Together, with Laureus and my Lindsey Vonn Foundation, we will work to create a better world through sport.”

JESSICA ENNIS-HILL was the hope of the British nation and the talisman of the British athletics team in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Despite the enormous national pressure on her, she dominated the heptathlon and won the gold medal with a British record score of 6,955 pts. She was subsequently honoured with the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award. In a stellar career, she also won three world championships and one European title. She also won a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 as she narrowly failed to defend her Olympic title.

Jessica said: “I am really proud to have been elected onto the Laureus Academy. I very much hope as a member of such an amazing group of influential sports people to be able to help make a real difference at a grassroots level to the lives of young people, with a real emphasis on women. My focus at the start of my role with Laureus is to help promote the benefits of sport in changing lives at home in the UK."

NICOL DAVID is arguably the greatest women’s player in the history of squash. She was No.1 in the world for a record-breaking 108 months until September 2015, and won the World Open a record eight times between 2005 and 2014. She also won the British Open five times and two Commonwealth Games gold medals. A huge star in her home country of Malaysia, she became a Laureus Ambassador in 2014.

Nicol said: “This is truly an incredible honour to be recognised by Laureus as an Academy Member together with all the sporting greats in their field that have impacted the world of sports. I’ve always dreamed of being part of Laureus even when I was a young athlete. Sport is life changing and it has certainly changed my life. I will do my very best to contribute in fulfilling Laureus’ vision by reaching out to more children and communities in need through sport in my own country Malaysia and globally as well."

Brazil’s DANIEL DIAS is one of the most decorated athletes in history, having won 24 Paralympic medals, including 14 gold, and 31 IPC Swimming World Championship gold medals. He was the home star of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro with four gold, three silver and two bronze medals. His remarkable successes in the pool not surprisingly resulted in him three times receiving the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award – in 2009, 2012 and 2016. He will become a fully active Academy Member after the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in August.

Daniel said: “I am delighted to become a Member of the Laureus Academy today, although it will be a few months before I can take up my role, as first I hope to complete my swimming career with a successful Paralympic Games in Tokyo. I have been lucky to win three Laureus Awards in my career, and I can tell you what an honour they are for an athlete. I am really looking forward to being able to help young people in the future and do my best to change the world."

Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick hailed the new Members of the Laureus Academy. “This is an incredible group of sporting super stars. We are delighted to have four such illustrious new members of the Laureus Family, I have spoken at length with them all and they cannot wait to begin to help us achieve our Purpose to support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which uses the power of sport to improve young people’s lives and help us fulfil the visionary words of our First Patron Nelson Mandela - ‘Sport has the power to change the world."

Laureus has now become one of the most influential and active sports-driven social enterprises operating in the field of Sports for Development. Since its inception Laureus has helped to improve the lives of more than six million children and young adults, and now supports over 250 sports-based community programmes around the world.

Academy Members are also the ultimate sports jury, voting each year to decide the Winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards, and have voted to select this year’s Winners who will be revealed tomorrow, May 6, in Seville. The current Laureus World Sports Academy Members are now:

Giacomo Agostini, Marcus Allen, Luciana Aymar, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Cafu, Fabian Cancellara, Bobby Charlton, Sebastian Coe, Nadia Comaneci, Nicol David, Alessandro Del Piero, Yaping Deng, Marcel Desailly, Kapil Dev, Daniel Dias, Mick Doohan, David Douillet, Rahul Dravid, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Luis Figo, Emerson Fittipaldi, Sean Fitzpatrick (Chairman), Missy Franklin, Dawn Fraser, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Ryan Giggs, Ruud Gullit, Bryan Habana, Mika Hakkinen, Tony Hawk, Maria Höfl- Reisch, Mike Horn, Chris  Hoy, Miguel Indurain, Michael Johnson, Kip Keino, Franz Klammer, Lennox Lewis, Tegla Loroupe, Dan Marino, Yao Ming, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, Li Na, Robby Naish, Martina Navratilova, Alexey Nemov, Jack Nicklaus, Lorena Ochoa, Brian O’Driscoll, Gary Player, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Carles Puyol, Raul, Steve Redgrave, Vivian Richards, Monica Seles, Mark Spitz, Sachin Tendulkar, Daley Thompson, Alberto Tomba, Francesco Totti, Lindsey Vonn, Steve Waugh, Katarina Witt, Xiaopeng, Yang Yang.

SportLocker - The Key to Sport streaming

SportLocker is a 24 hour on-demand sport service showcasing highlights, news, real-time statistics, and live scores, with 150+ new content appearing each day. 

Users can enjoy access to highlights of global major sporting events from a single platform through an affordable sports subscription model. One partner, MTN Group, Africa’s largest mobile network operator, reached over 45k subscribers within 5 days of launch in November 2022, with the subscriber base sitting at over 260,000 after the first two months. 

Sports clubs invited to apply for grassroots funding boost

Sports clubs in Wolverhampton are being invited to apply for funding to enhance their coaching and officiating capabilities and increase participation rates.

Sports equipment said to present low Covid risk

The risk of coronavirus transmission from sharing sports equipment is "lower than once thought", a study suggests. Researchers, led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, applied live virus particles to nine types of sports equipment and a control material. They concluded that it seems unlikely that sports balls and accessories are a major cause for transmission.

Last June Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that cricket balls are a "natural vector" of coronavirus. The Strike study found the virus was least transferrable on absorbent materials like cricket gloves and tennis balls, compared with non-porous equipment like racing saddles and rugby balls. The researchers found that there was rapid decay of viral particles across several types of equipment, and it was very difficult to transfer live virus back off it. Close contact between players is likely to be a more important mode of spreading the virus than sharing equipment, researchers concluded.

James Calder, from Imperial College and Fortius Clinic, said: "The findings in this study are important not only for elite athletes, but also for community sports and our schools.

"It shows that the risk of transmission when sharing sports equipment is lower than was once thought and it highlights the importance of promoting other infection control measures in sports, whilst urging equipment manufacturers to identify surfaces that may be less likely to retain viable virus."

During the study a low dose and a high dose of live coronavirus was applied to a cricket glove, a football, a golf ball, a piece of gym pit foam, a horse saddle, both red and white cricket balls, a rugby ball and a tennis ball, as well as a piece of stainless steel as a control material. Each was tested after one minute, five minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 90 minutes, to see whether live virus could be transferred off the equipment at time points that were relevant to sports events.

When the low dose was applied, virus was recoverable on seven of the 10 items tested after one minute, one of the 10 after five minutes - the horse saddle - and none of the 10 after 15 minutes. When the high dose was applied, virus was recoverable on nine out of the 10 items after one and five minutes - all except the cricket glove - six out of 10 after 30 minutes, and two out of 10 after 90 minutes (the rugby ball and horse saddle). However, the study - which is awaiting peer review - found that the "mean recovery of the virus fell across all materials to 0.74% at one minute, 0.39% at 15 minutes and 0.003% at 90 minutes".

Dr Emily Adams, a senior lecturer at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: "Anything that is slightly absorbent like a tennis ball or some of the leathery cricket balls, it's very difficult to transfer any live virus off those. So we think that transmission from sports equipment is probably very low in these cases. In many sports, like tennis, really the public health intervention should be focused on players and how players interact before a game, during a game and after a game and in transport rather than the sports equipment itself." The study found there was a noticeable difference in the viral recovery of red and white cricket balls.

It says: "Despite the white and red cricket ball surfaces both being composed of bovine leather, the different coatings used to finish the surfaces (synthetic grease on the red ball, nitrocellulose on the white ball) had a noticeable effect on viral recovery, with the red ball having a lower level." The study concludes that, given the differences in virus transfer between the types of sports equipment, the findings could "direct the engineering of materials that retain and absorb virus" as opposed to water-repellent materials, where the ability to transfer virus particles back off a surface is greater.

Sports Fans Around The World Vote For The Most Inspiring Moment In Sport

Sports fans around the world can be part of next month’s Laureus World Sports Awards by voting in a global online poll to pick the Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year. Voting opens today!

The Laureus Sporting Moment Award celebrates fair play, sportsmanship, dedication or overcoming adversity. It recognises a unique, emotional moment or story that touches the hearts of millions and inspires people worldwide.

Recent winners have included the FC Barcelona Under 12 team (2017), who consoled their losing Japanese opponents after the final of the World Challenge Cup, the Brazilian Chapecoense side (2018), who returned to football after the disastrous air crash which wiped out almost all the team, and Chinese double amputee Xia Boyu (2019) who reached the summit of Mt Everest.

Each of this year’s shortlisted moments, below, symbolises the true value of sport and brings to life the message that sport has the power to change the world and can unite us all.

AN INCREDIBLE DREAM BECOMES REAL

It took 16 hours, 46 minutes and 9 seconds for Chris Nikic, a 21-year-old from Florida, to make history, becoming the first person with Down’s Syndrome to complete a full Ironman - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile marathon run.

DELIVERING INSPIRATION FOR CHINA

Zhang Fangyong has never given up his dream of becoming a boxer, no matter what the obstacles. Now he works as a delivery man to support his family and to allow him to afford to train. In China delivery men have made a great contribution to normal life during Covid-19, and his determination has made him a national sporting hero.

GERMANY KICKS CORONA TOGETHER

Bayern Munich players Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka set up the ‘We Kick Corona’ initiative to support charities, groups and organisations, who have struggled during the coronavirus pandemic.  So far it has raised more than €5 million.

MATCH POINT AGAINST COVID

An improbable tennis match between two young girls staged on the rooftops of Finale Ligure in Italy showed that not even Covid-19 lockdown rules could stop their spirit of friendship and love of sport. Their reward was an unexpected visit by Roger Federer.

RACE AGAINST THE ELEMENTS

When Storm Filomena brought the heaviest snowfall in decades to Spain, everything stopped. But Dr Álvaro Sanchez was typical of the resolute spirit of health care workers, walking 17km (10.5 miles) to reach his Covid-19 patients in hospital.

SPORT UNITES ACROSS LOCKDOWNS

When sport was cancelled in Japan because of Covid-19, many high school boys and girls lost the chance to showcase their performances for applications to universities and sports teams. #NeverStopPlayingSports, founded by two rugby internationals, has filled the gap.

Sean Fitzpatrick, Chair of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “In the last five years this Award has given us a new impetus. Firstly it has involved the sports fans of the world who can now have their own voice and pick their own Award winner. But also, it has moved away from the scoreboard or the winner’s rostrum and celebrates something very special in sport, something very special in life.”

Founded in 2000 as the Laureus World Sports Awards, Laureus has now also become one of the most influential and active sports-driven social enterprises through its charitable arm, Laureus Sport for Good.

Since its inception Laureus has helped to improve the lives of more than six million children and young adults, and now supports more than 250 sports-based community programmes around the world, fulfilling the visionary words of its First Patron Nelson Mandela - ‘Sport has the power to change the world’.

Laureus also provides a platform for sportsmen and women to use their collective voice to highlight and promote the value of sport in society and use their positions of influence to make a powerful impact on issues and conflicts which go beyond sport

Sports figures gather for coaching conference in Birmingham during Commonwealth Games

Coaches, sports scientists, performance analysts and competitors, including former Olympians, are coming to Birmingham City University next month for an international summit on sports coaching. 

The University is hosting the Global Coaches House Birmingham 2022 Conference at its city centre campus from Tuesday 2 to Thursday 4 August – during the mid-point of the upcoming Commonwealth Games taking place in the city.

Sports Marketing Group to support Flatrock Motorsports Park and Motorclub

Flatrock Motorsports Park and Motorclub have announced the Sports Marketing Group (SMG), a global sports communications agency, has been selected to support its international motorsport communication program and digital strategy.

Sports Personality of the Year shortlist announced

The shortlist of six contenders has been announced for the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Sports powered this Paralympian's recovery

A year ago, Ali Truwit, a gifted athlete with a lifelong love of the water, was afraid to get in a pool.

Sports scholarship supports students, athletes, coaches and match officials

The University of Wolverhampton is supporting 29 talented student-athletes, coaches, and match officials across 11 different sports through its WLV Sport Scholarship Programme.  

Sports-themed charities team up to support disadvantaged youngsters

West Midlands charity Sport 4 Life UK has forged a new partnership with the Solihull Moors Foundation as part of a drive to help more disadvantaged young people in the town harness the power of sports-themed personal development. 

The initiative is aimed at widening access to Sport 4 Life UK’s renowned training expertise and will kick off in earnest at October half term with the launch of a Sports Leaders Qualification course for 13- to 18-year-olds.

Sportsman of the Year Messi scores historic double at 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards

Lionel Messi was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year tonight at an inspirational celebration of the best of sport as the prestigious 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards were staged in Paris.

The biggest show in sport was back as a live and in-person event for the first time since 2020 – and every one of the eight Award winners was there to celebrate an extraordinary sporting year. They were joined by the sporting legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy, Laureus Award winners from previous years and some of the world’s greatest athletes at a glittering ceremony at the Pavillon Vendome.

Sportworld announces major content partnerships with DFB Play TV, FIA World Rally Championship, and Red Bull TV

Sportworld, the disruptive sports streaming platform, have announced the integration of the new German Football Association's FAST channel ‘DFB Play TV’ in 65 countries globally, the ‘FIA World Rally Championship’ with all live races via ‘Rally.tv’ in 74 countries, and ‘Red Bull TV’ in Germany and Austria, further underlining its position as the fan-centric destination for sports fans and rights holders worldwide.