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Wear your rainbow merchandise with Pride and show your support for Jersey Pride in Sport!

Jersey Sport are proud once again, to be working in collaboration with EY and Liberate to celebrate Jersey Pride in Sport – to raise awareness and tackle the issues of racism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and sexism in sport.

Racism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, sexism and other prejudicial language can all too often be heard within sport settings and often gets dismissed as ‘banter’. The words we use matter and make the difference between an inclusive space or one that feels exclusive and intimidating for people from minority groups.

We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels like they belong – as it’s only when people feel truly accepted, that they can perform at their best.

During September, we’re asking as many sports people as possible to show their support by wearing rainbow laces and sweatbands during their sporting activity and to share their photos across social media using the hashtag #JerseyPrideInSport. Wearing rainbow merchandise in support of Jersey Pride in Sport demonstrates your commitment to help make local sport an inclusive and discrimination-free space.

Thanks to sponsors EY, sports organisations can collect their rainbow merchandise from our Sports Partnership Officer, Libby Barnett on:

• Wednesday 7 September, 16:00-18:00 at Jersey Sport, FB Fields
• Saturday 10 September, 15:00-18:00 at the Pride Village, People’s Park
• Monday 12 September, 12:00-14:00 at Jersey Public Library
• Friday 16 September, 10:00-12:00 at Jersey Sport, FB Fields

Chris Matthews, a Partner at EY in Jersey, said: “It’s great to see in-person Pride celebrations returning to Jersey once again this year and we are delighted to be supporting this through our continued sponsorship of Pride in Sport. It’s only when we can be our true authentic selves that we can perform at our best, whether that’s in sport, at home or in the office. It’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure we live in a community where discrimination is stamped out and everyone is treated fairly. 

It’s clear that progress is being made within sports across the globe. The news of Blackpool’s Jake Daniels becoming the first active male professional footballer to come out publicly as gay in the UK was a step in the right direction, but it’s clear from the uncertainties surrounding LBGTQ+ fans attending the upcoming world cup that work still needs to be done. We are proud to be supporting Liberate in raising awareness of these issues on a local level and continuing to strive for equality and hope to see many people across the islands donning their rainbow laces in support of Pride.”

Vic Tanner Davy, CEO of Liberate Jersey, said: “We are delighted that Jersey Sport and EY have partnered again for Pride to highlight the work that needs to be done on and off the sporting field to address racism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and sexism. We are supporting Jersey Sport’s year-round programme by offering training for sports clubs, officials, coaches and players on inclusion in sports for all minority groups.”

In support of Jersey Pride in Sport, Jersey Sport will be holding an Information and Drop-In session about Disability and Inclusion in Sport on 27 September, from 11:30-14:30, at the Santander Work Café. There’s no need to book – just drop-in on the day to chat to members of our team, to see how we can help support your sports organisation.

In partnership with Liberate, we will also be holding a two-hour Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Workshop on 29 September, at the Jersey Public Library, from 18:00. The workshop will look at the issues of diversity, inclusion, fairness, equality, respect and acceptance within sport and how leaders, officials, coaches and players in sports organisations can promote positive change.

Sports organisations can find a wealth of resources surrounding inclusive sport and how they can create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members, at all levels, in the new Resource Bank on the Jersey Sport website.

Phil Austin MBE, Chairman of Jersey Sport said: “Sport should be for everyone, but sadly there are some groups for whom significant barriers to participation in sport still exist. Changing this requires all of us to understand what we can do to make our sports organisations, teams, schools and associations more inclusive. We have a range of free resources available on our website to help organisations make sport inclusive and welcoming for everyone, and we’re asking the Jersey sporting community to GET INVOLVED and show their support for Pride in Sport.”

For more information about Jersey Pride in Sport, Jersey Sport’s new Resource Bank and to book onto the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Workshop, please visit: www. jerseysport.je/jersey-pride-in-sport

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