The SIGA Council has unanimously approved the set of recommendations on race, gender, diversity and inclusion in sport that was announced earlier this week by a multi-stakeholder task force composed of sports executives, thoughts leaders and athletes from different backgrounds and parts of the world.
The recommendations include bolstering research on the issue of race at leadership positions of international federations, as well as the SIGA Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport.
The amendments, that are to be incorporated into the 2020 Edition of the SIGA Universal Standards, include the bold step of setting a new “Gold Standard” for sports organisations to achieve targets for gender and race diversity in the board room, on an incremental basis, for example, a gradual percentage, year 1, 25%, year 2, 35%, year 3, 50%.
Other concrete recommendations include specifically referencing disability in the SIGA Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport, as well as making it a “Gold Standard” for all employees at sports organisations to receive unconscious bias training to install a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the governance structure of a sports organisation.
Further practical recommendations to SIGA include the development of a Toolkit for Sports Organisations to facilitate the implementation of the Task Force’s proposed amendments to the SIGA Universal Standards on Good Governance in Sport.
To read the complete list of the Task Force’s Recommendations, including composition of the Task Force, please click here.
To watch the Web Media Conference on Day 1 of the Sport Integrity Week with members of the Task Force, please click here.
On the release of the recommendations as Chair of the Task Force, Brian Lewis, President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Olympic Committee (TTOC), Chair of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC) and Member of the SIGA Council, said:
“It has been an honour and privilege to serve on the Task Force with a diverse and passionate and visionary group of individuals all committed to ending all forms of discrimination, racial and gender injustices and inequalities in sport.”
Densign White, CEO of International Mixed Martial Arts (IMMAF) and Member of the SIGA Council, said:
“The SIGA Diversity and Inclusion Task Force is a welcome and timely initiative, and I am honoured to serve on the panel since these are topics close to my heart. Tackling the underrepresentation of women, BAME people and disabled people at the top end of sports organisations is crucial for change and we are currently working up policies and targets for improving diversity particularly in leadership positions. This includes starting at home by reviewing how we can strengthen the SIGA Universal Standards with respect to these important values, which in turn serve to strengthen organisations.”
Stacey Copeland, First British Woman to win the Commonwealth Title for Boxing and SIGA Champion, said:
“It‘s been a real privilege to be involved on the Task Force for Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion. It’s so important we get this right and address the imbalances that unfortunately continue to exist in our society, with sport being no exception. To my mind the Task Force has laid out recommendations that are workable, sensible and critical and I really hope we see them acted upon across the sporting landscape.”
Angela Smith, Chair, Stoke City Supporters Council, Member of Winning GB World Champion Squash Team and SIGA Global Female Mentor, said:
“Sports governance needs regulation by an independent body such as SIGA? Clear pathways are a must from grassroots sport to the highest levels. The standards set should serve to empower and help educate everyone whilst allowing positive feedback and accountability.”
Affy Sheikh, Head of Starlizard Integrity Services and SIGA Member, said:
“It‘s been a real privilege to be involved on the Task Force for Race, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion. It’s so important we get this right and address the imbalances that unfortunately continue to exist in our society, with sport being no exception. To my mind the Task Force has laid out recommendations that are workable, sensible and critical and I really hope we see them acted upon across the sporting landscape.”
Katie Simmonds, General Counsel & Senior Director, Global Partnerships, SIGA, said:
“The SIGA Universal Standards were always conceived as a living document, to be updated as best practice evolves. The Task Force’s combined experience has resulted in a robust set of recommendations that will inspire and incentivise sports organisations to increase diversity and inclusion from recruitment to the highest level of the board, with accountability. This is the catalyst the industry needs to instigate cultural change.”