Commonwealth Games Federation President Martin Steps Down From Birmingham 2022 Board

Photo courtesy: Birmingham 2022 Twitter

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin has resigned from the Birmingham 2022 board following concerns over a lack of diversity.

Martin’s decision to step down came days after figures in sport and politics called for urgent action over the lack of diversity among the leadership of the 2022 event to be held in the city in the English midlands, starting this very day in two years’ time.

Almost all of the 2022 Games’ board of directors and executive management team are white and chief executive Ian Reid acknowledged there was “work to do”.

Local politicians wanted more black and ethnic minority members to better reflect Birmingham’s ethnic diversity.

The Scot will be replaced by Sandra Osborne, a lawyer who is president of the country’s Olympic and Commonwealth Games associations and sits on the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) executive board as its legal adviser and chairs its governance and integrity committee.

A sports lawyer, she also chairs the International Tennis Federation’s ethics commission.

A Commonwealth Games Federation statement read:

“The CGF is proud that our organisation reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and that we have a person of Sandra’s calibre to actively contribute on the Birmingham 2022 Board.

“The CGF supports the renewed commitment of the Birmingham 2022 organising committee to ensure that its governance and management fully reflects the diversity of the city and region.

“Dame Louise will continue to play an active role in the supporting preparations for the staging of Birmingham 2022.”

The resignation of Martin, who was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, followed “discussions over recent months” and it is understood she had been considering doing so for several months in order to help representation.

John Crabtree, chair of the Birmingham 2022 board said:

“We are extremely grateful for Dame Louise’s time, effort, and her valuable contribution. We welcome Sandra to the board and look forward to benefiting from her unrivalled experience as her skill set and future input help us deliver an incredible Commonwealth Games.

“We collectively remain committed to ensure that Birmingham 2022 is truly a Games for everyone and something that the city and region can be proud of.”

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