2022 Games race row heats up
Call for some Commonwealth organising board members to stand down
AN open letter signed by some of Birmingham’s most prominent political, business and community leaders has challenged those organising the city’s 2022 Commonwealth Games to take seriously concerns about lack of diversity at the top.
The unprecedented letter, signed by 60 prominent figures across the city, offers to “support and assist” Birmingham 2022 to resolve the issue, and poses ten questions.
They say they are concerned that the executive team and board organising the Games does not reflect the racial diversity of either the host city or the Commonwealth.
They accuse the leadership of producing an “insubstantial response” that is “disappointing”.
It is the latest twist in a row that threatens to overshadow community engagement plans for the Games.
Among their questions, the signatories ask which of the current Games board members are prepared to “stand down voluntarily” to make way for black representatives.
They also ask what percentage of jobs, contracts and procurement will go to black, Asian and socially deprived communities, and how this will be achieved.
The Black Lives Matter movement and continuing distress over the Windrush scandal, allied to evidence that coronavirus is impacting black and Asian communities worse than others, has shone a light on a lack of diverse representation in the corridors of power in the city.
Letter co-ordinator Ammo Talwar, who chairs a schools trust and record label in the city, said it was “shameful” that the Games did not reflect the diversity of either the host city (nearly half of the population is Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic) or the Commonwealth.
The letter opens: “We are writing to express our disappointment at the responses from the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee 2022 towards the issues of perceived institutionalised racism and representational parity.
“We are also offering our support and assistance in dealing with these issues, as they affect businesses, communities and athletes alike. The 2022 Games are taking place in our name, and we all act as its ambassadors.”
Their retort comes after Games chief executive Ian Reid and chairman John Crabtree wrote an open letter to the city to outline their plans on diversity and inclusivity, and to quell criticism about appointments to top positions.
Of the 20 senior roles, including the entire executive team, 19 went to white people.
Mr Reid and Mr Crabtree replied that they intended to review the organisational structure and decision-making governance of Birmingham 2022 to “ensure it is more reflective of the people in our region”, and pledged the jobs recruitment process over the coming two years “represents and reflects the world we live in”.
They also pledged to bring on board new talent at all levels of management and deliver an “organisation-wide action plan” on inclusivity.
Signatories of the new letter say: “It is clear that those driving the Games
What’s happening to the citizens of Birmingham with regards to the Commonwealth Games is shameful Letter organiser Ammo Talwar
need urgent support to engage with communities and businesses, to make the Games truly inclusive and set a benchmark for future events.”
They say they feel the region’s diverse, young and digital communities “which won the Games” are now being “sidelined”.
The letter adds: “The Games team must assess their involvement and complicity with systemic issues and privilege, and commit to transparency and action, with speed and a sense of civic mission.
“Words count for little if they are not followed by actions, to which named officers are held accountable. We call
chief executive, I Am Birmingham
director, Legacy West Midlands
chief executive, Punch Records
Nishkam
Centre
chief executive, Enterprise Data Systems
West Midlands Combined Authority leadership commission
Jigsors
Architects
presenter
actor
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Health, Aston University
founder of
chief executive, Change Kitchen
director, K4
radio
chief executive, Birmingham Voluntary Services Council
special adviser to the BAME Business All Party Parliamentary Group, Federation of Small Businesses lead
chief executive, Birmingham Mela
chief executive, Midland Mencap