British Athletes Commission promises to improve support for LGBT sportspeople

PinkNews logo with white background and rainbow corners

The British Athletes Commission (BAC), the members’ association for the UK’s professional athletes, has pledged to ensure it is providing enough support for LGBT sportspeople.

After the end of the Commonwealth Games in August, the BAC and Pride Sports, an organisation which aims to end homophobia in UK sport, will hold a consultation with LGBT athletes to get feedback on their services and find out how they can improve their experiences in the world of sport.

BAC chief executive Ian Braid said: “The sexuality of an athlete should not have an impact on an athlete’s performance or the environment in which he/she trains, but we know it can.

“The BAC is seeking to understand the nature and the scope of this potential issue and to put in place appropriate support mechanisms for athletes.”

Pride Sports director Lou Englefield said: “We are delighted to be working with the BAC to ensure their services meet the needs of LGB athletes.

“We believe this is the first consultation of its kind in the UK.

“Speaking in confidence with a range of athletes we hope not only to support the BAC to refine its existing services, but also to improve our own understanding of the performance environment for LGB athletes.”

The consultation, which will take approximately three months, will be conducted by Pride Sports directors Lou Englefield and Dr Anna Verges, with the findings due in December.

Comments (0)

MyPinkNews members are invited to comment on articles to discuss the content we publish, or debate issues more generally. Please familiarise yourself with our community guidelines to ensure that our community remains a safe and inclusive space for all.

Loading Comments