Charter tackles racism in sport

Kate Hoey: Waging war on discrimination

Sports Minister Kate Hoey is unveiling a new charter designed to end racism in sport.

The Racial Equality Charter for Sport is aimed at banishing racial harassment.

The charter has been drawn up by Sporting Equals, a partnership project set up by Sport England and the Commission for Racial Equality, and is backed by seven national sports governing bodies, including UK Athletics and the Rugby Football Union.

Racial policy

The launch comes after a Sporting Equals survey showed about half of the 33 sports governing bodies questioned claimed there was no discrimination in their sport.

A third also revealed they did not have a formal policy on racial equality.

Novlette Rennie, of Sporting Equals, said: "With race issues in sport so high in the headlines, it is extraordinary that this should be the response."

She added: "One year on from the Lawrence inquiry report, racial equality is a challenge sport cannot duck."

The charter follows campaigns already led by the Commission for Racial Equality to tackle racism in football and rugby league.