IN THE wake of dismay at the lack of diversity surrounding this sumner’s Commonwealth Games, the independent deputy chair of Birmingham 2022 has called for collaboration between all parties.

The Commonwealth Games, taking place in Birmingham during July this year, is a chance for a city to represent itself and its various communities and allow those from all backgrounds to participate and shine.

However, many groups, most notably those from the Sikh community, feel this goal of inclusion is not being fulfilled by this year’s event organisers.

Now Geoff Thompson has called on all involved to pull in the same direction. He told The Voice: “We all need to get around the table so that we can now execute a Games that truly is for everyone.”

Birmingham is a city rich in multiculturalism and the Sikh community feel as if they are being ‘ignored and bypassed’; feelings expressed in an open letter issued by the Sikh community forum. As a result, a meeting has been arranged, between the organising committee’s chief executive Ian Reid and chairman John Crabtree and the Sikh community forum.

The letter also goes onto explain how those from the Sikh community feel as if they must protest to make themselves heard; a trend which to them is becoming uncomfortably common, as their efforts in British history have been largely ignored in British annual remembrance services.

The letter emphasises how those from the Sikh community had looked forward to the games as a chance to celebrate their community; instead, they have had little contact from the Games organising committee and Cllr Gurdial Singh Atwal suggested the use of a boy in a turban was merely ‘to fulfil the diversity quota.’

The Sikh communities’ views are not alone, as an open letter signed by many from various cultural groups has claimed that “Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities seem to have been sidestepped and major contributors to this local culture and business innovation ignored.”

Organisers of the Games say they have delivered community events reaching 147,000 people and ran diversity and faith forums to consult with community representatives.

The city council leader Cllr Ian Ward spoke of his surprise at the concerns and pledged to include the Sikh community and make sure they were properly represented.

The Commonwealth Games are no stranger to criticism regarding equality and diversity as in 2020 the Games were blasted when it was revealed that its entire team of executives and all but one of its board members were white.