LOCOG becomes first organisation to reach Advanced Equality Standard for Sport
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UK Sport/LOCOG 07 March 2011
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has today been announced as the first organisation to reach the Advanced level of the Equality Standard for Sport.
Marking the first day of LOCOG’s annual ‘Diversity Week’ at their ‘Everyone’s 2012’ Conference, LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton was presented with the Advanced Equality Standard for Sport certificate by Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport.
Addressing the Conference today, Nicholl said: “LOCOG are to be congratulated on this significant achievement. In reaching the Advanced Equality Standard for Sport, they have shown commitment to embedding equality throughout the organisation and all of their work streams, which will prove fundamental to making London 2012 a truly inclusive Games.
“This is also an important milestone in the history of the Equality Standard for Sport. We are delighted that LOCOG has found this to be a valuable tool to use to drive their equality agenda. UK Sport is on the journey to achieving this, and we will do what we can to support all UK Sport funded organisations, including every Olympic and Paralympic sport, to reach this impressive standard.
“While the LOCOG team has a challenging year ahead, I hope they will continue to share best practice in this area with their partners in British sport as we all aspire to embed equality throughout our work.”
Launched in 2004, the Equality Standard for Sport has been developed in partnership by UK Sport, the nation’s high performance sports agency, with the Home Country Sports Councils as a framework for assisting sports organisations in widening access and reducing inequalities in sport for under-represented groups. It is based around two broad themes - developing your organisation and developing your services - and four levels of achievement; Foundation, Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced.
Deighton added: “We want to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change and ensure that everyone feels they can be part of London 2012. Embedding diversity and inclusion in all the work we do has been a key focus for us. We want to leave a legacy of greater inclusion and understanding of diversity and the Equality Standard for Sport has been instrumental in helping us achieve this. I’m thrilled that we have achieved the Advanced Level and that we are contributing to a sporting environment built on equality and inclusion.”
