Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Dame Louise Martin has stepped down from the Birmingham 2022 board amid concerns over a lack of diversity.
The organising committee has been criticised for having an almost entirely white executive management team and board. Barbados-based Sandra Osborne QC will take Martin’s place.
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.”
Crabtree added that the board were “committed to ensure that Birmingham 2022 is truly a Games for everyone”.
However this latest setback to the Federation follows on from its contentious decision to exclude shooting from the listed events this time round. The Indian Olympic Association has since stepped in to facilitate a new shooting event.
Shooting and archery events will now take place in Chandigarh in January 2022, with the main Games from 27 July to 7 August in Birmingham.
The move to India was approved by the CGF executive board—including Dame Martin—after it declined to offer Bisley the chance to host shooting events, as it had done successfully at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022 will be separately organised and funded, but medals will still count towards the same overall competition.
“There is a long tradition of the Commonwealth Championships being held across the globe, featuring several different sports, so it’s great news that India will be continuing this tradition,” said Birmingham 2022 chief executive Ian Reid.
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