New anti-homophobia Sports Charter logo unveiled
The logo for the government’s pro-LGBT sports initiative was unveiled today, coinciding with the anniversary of the Sports Charter’s launch.
The winning logo was selected following a nationwide competition and designed by 10-year-old Anjune Ahmed from Hungerford primary school, Islington.
Anjune beat 70 others to the prize in a competition hosted on Facebook and judged by Rugby Union star and Sports Charter champion Ben Cohen.
Equalities minister Lynne Featherstone said: “Since its launch a year ago the sports charter has received tremendous support from the sporting world. Over 3,300 individuals and clubs have signed up including many of the top teams in the country, and all have promised to challenge discrimination and abuse wherever it occurs.
“Signing is of course the first step of a much longer journey and so I now want to see all those signatories turning their commitment into concrete action. I also want to see even more sports fans, clubs and players pledging their support.
“The new logo launched today will help everyone who loves sport spread the message that homophobic and transphobic abuse and discrimination is never acceptable.”
The sports charter was launched in March 2011 and commits its signatories to work towards ridding sport of discrimination and abuse against gay, bi and transgender people.
Ben Cohen MBE said: “I am passionate about standing up against homophobia and making sure sport is a welcoming place for everyone. The winning logo will allow sports fans, players and clubs to clearly show their support for tackling this issue and help unite everyone who loves sport behind this important campaign.”
Hungerford school headteacher Brian Bench said: “We choose to participate in events such as this because Hungerford is an inclusive school. As such these awards recognise our commitment to equality.
“Pupils, staff and families at Hungerford are dedicated to celebrating diversity and making sure that every person feels safe, free from any form of bullying and happy within our community.”
All the children from years five and six (ages nine to 11) at Hungerford primary school took part in the competition. Two other pupils from the school received the second and fourth prizes. The remaining runners up were from Nottingham and Reading.
The winner and runners up received prizes donated by the football association, the football league, the lawn tennis association, the rugby football league and Ben Cohen including a mascot package for under 11s at an England football international game at Wembley, a tour of Wembley stadium, two tickets to the championship play-off finals at Wembley, the AEGON tennis championship at queens, the rugby league challenge cup final, a signed Ben Cohen rugby shirt
Anjune received first choice of all the prizes and chose a tour of Wembley stadium.
