Sally Munday
Chief Executive Officer, UK Sport
Learn how inclusion could be key to sustaining Great Britain’s golden era of success on the world stage in Olympic and Paralympic sport.
We have enjoyed yet another scintillating chapter of Great Britain’s most enduring sporting success story this summer, with Team GB and ParalympicsGB success in Paris. While we have seen massive progress in recent years, our Olympic and Paralympic community is not yet truly reflective of the nation we represent.
Inclusion essential for sport success
For the next chapter of our story to be as compelling, accelerating inclusion will be key to our success. The current reality is that people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, in particular, are significantly under-represented in British Olympic and Paralympic sport, especially in leadership and management roles.
We also have a lack of female coaches and performance directors. Despite decades of Paralympic success, we see comparatively few people with disabilities working in our community.
Development programme for diverse leadership
Change starts at the top. As a leadership organisation of Olympic and Paralympic sport in this country, UK Sport has embedded inclusivity into our strategic plan. We aspire to create a high-performance system that is diverse, inclusive and ethical; one where the nation’s diverse talent belongs and can thrive.
This week, we are excited for our new Aspire to Lead programme to get underway. Launched earlier this year at our first ever Tackling Racism and Racial Inequality in Sport Conference, Aspire to Lead is a development programme for aspiring leaders from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds.
We aspire to create a high-performance system that is diverse, inclusive and ethical.
We want to put participants on a trajectory towards a senior position within sport by recognising their potential and equipping them with critical leadership knowledge and skills to think strategically, influence and challenge successfully. We will open up access to opportunities to grow their experience, increase their visibility and build their network.
Encouraging the next generation in sport
We have had an overwhelming response to the launch of this programme and are delighted to be working with 25 individuals as our first ‘in person’ cohort as well as another 20 who will be offered a ‘lite’ version of the programme online.
This is just one of the ways we are seeking to change the game for the next generation of sports leaders, coaches and athletes. Inclusion really could be the next frontier for Great Britain to sustain our position as a world-leading nation in Olympic and Paralympic sport.
