GB Snowsports - Tackling Inequality With The Sport And Recreation Alliance

GB Snowsport has joined other National Governing Bodies in becoming a co-signatory of a statement issued by the Sport and Recreational Alliance (SRA) that has pledged a sector wide commitment to tackle inequality and bring about a meaningful change.

In aaddition Vicky Gosling has issued a statement. She says:

We need more than just words. Actions are needed to make real change.

The death of George Floyd and the global BLM movement has required all sporting bodies to look carefully at how they operate and whether they are genuinely inclusive and open. Unfortunately, inequalities do exist in society, however through history sport has been essential in removing barriers and overcoming prejudice. BLM tells us that more needs to be done.

When I joined GB Snowsport, I wanted to bring change within the organisation but also externally. We know that Snowsports can appeal to anyone, reach everyone and be inclusive, but we must increase our efforts to make sure that this really happens. We are going in the right direction, but we all need to challenge ourselves and to ask how we can do better.

We have to continue to change perceptions of snowsport for everyone in the country. Our education programmes and the work behind the scenes with different organisations is about making sure we become a more inclusive sport. The events of the last few weeks must further our resolve to work with the wider snowsport community and to deliver the change that we are all looking for.

To compete at the highest level in any sport is incredibly difficult so athletes should never face additional barriers of gender, age or race. This means we have to be accessible, supportive, caring and offer the same opportunity for everyone, from their first interest in snowsports to standing on a podium.

As an organisation we have to listen and want to hear what you have to say. So, please let us have any suggestions or thoughts you have on diversity and inclusion. We want to use your knowledge and experience to help keep developing snowsports for everyone. Please email – media@gbsnowsport.com

Vicky Gosling

You can read the full Sport and Recreation Alliance statement here:

Sport and recreation sector commit to tackling inequality

The appalling death of George Floyd, the global protests that have followed and the powerful message of the Black Lives Matter movement has made every section of society take notice and confront an ugly truth.

Sport and recreation has an influential role to bring about meaningful change and this period has rightly led the sector to reflect, listen, question, learn and openly discuss how to take positive action.

It is acknowledged that up to this point, we have not done enough.

It is time to confront racism and inequality that exists across sport, from grassroots participation through to the boardroom.

Research by the Sport and Recreation Alliance (2018) showed that four in ten (40%) of BAME participants have endured a negative experience in sport or physical activity settings, more than double that of white participants.

A 2020 Sport England report demonstrates that just over 50% of black people in England meet the recommended levels of physical activity each week.

The Diversity in Sport Governance report (2018/19) identified there is only 5% BAME board representation across Sport England and UK Sport funded organisations.

Constructive work has already been started to address a number of these problems including a committed effort to increase boardroom diversity, additional funding to tackle inequality and an array of inspiring inclusiveness projects from across the sport and recreation sector. This can only be seen as the start.

Systemic change must be made at all levels so that we can become truly reflective of our wonderfully diverse society. We can no longer rely on black role models at the elite level speaking out, we must join together to become better and to support every member of the sport and recreation community.

We must become more inclusive. We must create opportunities which are truly accessible. We must do more.

To help us achieve this, there has to be a commitment for a significant increase in resources and funding, as has been dedicated to address other areas of inequality. We have welcomed the recent news of the Sports Minister’s decision to review the Sports Governance Code.

There is no easy solution and change will require a consolidated approach both from within and outside of our sector. It is time to face awkward questions, to become involved in uncomfortable conversations and to hold ourselves to account.

List of Signatories