BT Sport To Host The D WORD2 Conference

d-word-closing-panelAfter a highly successful inaugural event, The D Word Conference is back and will be hosted by BT Sport at their studios at the Queen Elizabeth Park, Stratford.

This second instalment on diversity, The D Word2, will take place on Monday, 24th October and will be free of charge to attend. Funded by FARE, European football’s anti-discrimination and equality network, and Refresh Films.

The conference is part of the FARE Action Weeks, which unite supporters, clubs, ethnic minorities and communities affected by discrimination across the continent in a concerted effort to make discrimination a thing of the past.

The D Word2 will build upon the foundation created in September 2014, where over 140 people flocked to the inaugural event at the London College of Communication. Located in one of the most multi-cultural parts of the capital, the delegates came to lend their voices to what proved to be an inspiring and challenging inaugural debate on this issue.

The aim of this second conference is to review progress since the first D Word, seek further advice and positive solutions, and set out targets for the sports media – to put diversity firmly on the agenda for the industry’s key decision makers.

Leon Mann, founder of BCOMS and co-owner of Refresh Films, said: “BCOMS is delighted to be delivering our second D Word conference at the BT Sport studios. It is a fantastic venue to discuss, debate and ultimately come up with practical ways to help ensure the sports media becomes more diverse.

“We have some tremendous speakers lined up for the conference and the day will offer an unrivalled networking opportunity for those wanting to progress in the industry or get a foot in the door to begin their career in the sports media.

“The conference is free and we urge people to sign up early as there was a huge demand for the first D Word.”

Following the event, a D Word2 guide to delivering diversity in the sports media will be circulated across the sports and media industries. The guide will be based on ideas and contributions generated from the conference and put together by BCOMS – The Black Collective of Media in Sport – who aim to be the first port of call both for black professionals in the sports media and talented newcomers looking to develop their careers.

If you would like to attend this important conference, please get your ticket here or e-mail info@bcoms.co if you have any questions.

Kaepernick Is The Ultimate Athlete Activist

colin-kaepernick-finalWhen sports people have a view to share on society, the world gets very uncomfortable. But more often than not, the world also listens.

NFL star Colin Kaepernick has been front page news in the USA over the last couple of weeks, after refusing to stand for the American national anthem. His reason? He is using his position of profile, as a sports star, to protest against the treatment of black people in the US.

The levels of hate and vitriol the San Francisco 49ers quarterback has received as a result has been incredible. Many have called him unpatriotic and disrespectful of those willing to die for their county. And recent articles have even suggested that his actions should lead to the end of his career in the NFL.

On the flip side, some military veterans have pledged their support for the american footballers’ stand by creating the hashtag #VeteransForKaepernick. Meanwhile, the #BlackLivesMatter campaign has once again been visible to the world.

Kaepernick has also donated $1million to community organisations and said he will continue to sit out the anthem until he sees improvements in US race relations.

All I can say is… Wow! What a guy. This, for me, is the ultimate in athlete activism.

But why should I be so impressed? Shocked even. In my day to day life I meet people with strong views about the world. People who make a stand against injustice every day of their lives. People who given their time and money towards causes. These people are rich, poor, black, white. They are, well, just people.

And this is my point. Kaepernick is a human being. He also happens to play sport pretty well. Just like many of us he gets angry about issues in society – and I am delighted he is willing to go further than most. This guy is actually doing something.

Maybe the real eye opener here is he is a sports person with profile, power and money being seen to be putting it all on the line for an issue he could easily side step and continue with a very comfortable life.

His 49ers team mate, Eric Reid, has since joined Kaepernick’s protest by sitting out the anthem. I wonder how many others will stand with them now? If two sports stars can get the world talking, a larger group could make change a reality.

*Leon Mann is a founding member of the Sports People’s Think Tank