UK SPORT and Sport England have announced their plans to conduct a joint review of the Code for Sports Governance looking specifically into equality, diversity and inclusion.

For true systemic culture change to take place, we have to look beyond the Boardroom into all levels of senior leadership and director positions

Geoff Thompson

In a first for the two governing bodies the review of ‘the code, which is jointly produced by us and UK Sport‘, will begin immediately and cover three areas:

• Where the code would benefit from further development, including a substantive review of its elements that support equality, diversity and inclusion – particularly those that focus on the boards of sporting organisations, aimed at ensuring greater representation of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, disabled people or people with a long-term health condition, as well as female representation
• A general review of other elements of the code, drawing on more than three years of experience of using the code and with more than 200 bodies now having been assessed
• A check against current governance best practice from other sectors, recognising that thinking may have moved on and further improvements found in sport and other sectors over the last three years.

Organisations the code applies to will be part of the wide and inclusive consultation, as well as other organisations involved in improving governance, diversity and inclusion.

With the review anticipated to be concluded within six months, Sport England’s chief executive Tim Hollingsworth welcomed the news.

“The Code for Sports Governance has undoubtedly pushed the standard of sports governance to a new level and been an amazing tool for reform, particularly where bringing about greater gender parity is concerned,” he said.

“However, we are more aware than ever of the work that remains to be done, particularly where equality and diversity at board and leadership level is concerned. 

“With BAME numbers at board and leadership levels quite rightly in the spotlight at the moment, this must not be another false dawn for addressing the racial inequalities that exist within sport, and the review of the Code for Sports Governance will serve as one of the key pieces of work on this front.” 

In alignment with Hollingsworth’s assertion former karate world champion champion Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE told the Voice the review must target the right areas in order to impart genuine and robust scruitiny that will invariably lead to implementing effective change.

He said: “The announcement by two important British sporting institutions, UK Sport and Sport England are welcomed.

“However, if we are to avoid another false dawn of policies, initiatives, promises and pledges where Boardroom diversity is to be fully realised, then their launching of their joint review of the Code for Sports Governance, that focuses on equality, diversity and inclusion must start with the changes from within.

“For true systemic culture change to take place, we have to look beyond the Boardroom into all levels of senior leadership and director positions.

“Then and only then can we see real demonstrative and impactful change realised.”

The code was launched in April 2017 and has accelerated the professionalisation of many national sports bodies, including establishing boards as the ultimate decision-making authority within a sport, rather than the traditional councils.