London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games first organization to reach highest standard in sports equality

From InsideTheGames.biz:

London 2012 have been confirmed as the first organisation to achieve the Advanced Equality Standard for Sport.

The Organising Committee began their Diversity Week with the award, presented by Liz Nicholl, the chief executive of UK Sport, to London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton.

Nicholl told their 'Everyone's 2012' conference: "LOCOG are to be congratulated. They have shown commitment to embedding equality throughout the organisation, which will prove fundamental to making London 2012 a truly inclusive Games. This is also an important milestone in the history of the Equality Standard for Sport. UK Sport is on the journey to achieving this, and we will do what we can to support all UK Sport funded organisations, including every Olympic and Paralympic sport, to reach this impressive standard."

The Equality Standard for Sport has been developed in partnership by UK Sport and the Home Country Sports Councils in order to enable sports organisations to widen access and reduce inequalities in sport for under-represented groups. Created in 2004, it is based around organisation development and service development, with four levels of achievement; foundation, preliminary, intermediate and advanced.

Deighton said: "We want to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change and ensure that everyone feels they can be part of London 2012. "We want to leave a legacy of greater inclusion and understanding of diversity and the Equality Standard for Sport has been instrumental in helping us achieve this. I'm thrilled that we have achieved the Advanced Level and that we are contributing to a sporting environment built on equality and inclusion."