Introducing our guest writer for this week’s blog, Aneela McKenna, with over two decades of experience in equality, diversity, and inclusion. In 2018, she founded Mòr Diversity to provide diversity training for workplaces in various sectors. McKenna also served as the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Adviser for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to ensure inclusivity for all attendees.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland marked a significant milestone in the country’s sporting history. This event brought together 13 championships, showcasing Scotland on the global stage. With over 7,000 elite and amateur cyclists, including para-athletes, from 131 nations, and more than 220 world champions crowned, the excitement was palpable among the thousands of spectators present.
The objective of the event was to create a world-class experience that would attract, engage, and inspire new audiences to embrace cycling. Special focus was placed on Women and Girls, aiming to provide them with more opportunities to participate in the sport and be inspired by female role models.
Research indicates that Women and Girls face various barriers to cycling due to socioeconomic factors, cultural norms, infrastructure limitations, and health disparities. The goal of the event was to create innovative and accessible opportunities for these groups to actively participate in cycling.
The recently published EDI Impact Evaluation Report highlighted several key successes and outcomes of the event, including a commitment from partners to promote Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the cycling community. Partners pledged to support the growth and sustainability of Women and Girls in cycling, emphasizing the importance of female role models in inspiring participation in sports.
The Women’s Elite Road race marked a significant moment in the event, with the first-ever women’s race as the grand finale. Over 40% of spectators were women, showcasing the growing interest in women’s cycling. Furthermore, a significant portion of media coverage targeted non-core cyclists, specifically Women and Girls, to elevate the visibility of female athletes in the sport.
The event also focused on creating a lasting legacy of accessibility and inclusion. Guidelines were developed to ensure future major events prioritize inclusivity, such as introducing period products at all venues to remove stigmas. Community activations and funding initiatives further promoted cycling among underrepresented groups, with a specific focus on Women and Girls.
Overall, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships demonstrated a commitment to fostering awareness and understanding of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion within the sports community. While celebrating the successes of the event, there is a call to continue this momentum and further enhance inclusivity in future events.
All photos provided by the 2023 Cycling World Championships.
If you are interested in learning more about the initiatives by Mòr Diversity and the Cycling World Championships to promote inclusion, impact, and audience engagement, you can access the Impact Evaluation report here.
