SM
Ipswich vs. Man United: 5 hrs 14 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Ama Agbeze and Geoff Thompson appointed to 2022 Commonwealth Games board

:Headline: Ama Agbeze and Geoff Thompson appointed to 2022 Commonwealth Games board: ID:435468: from db_amp
Ama Agbeze captained England's netballers to Commonwealth gold in 2018, while Geoff Thompson is five-time former world karate champion.

Former international athletes Ama Agbeze and Geoff Thompson have been appointed to the board of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Agbeze captained Team England's netballers to Commonwealth gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Games, while Thompson is five-time former world karate champion.

Their appointments by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden follow concerns over a lack of diversity among the event's leadership.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, pictured, has appointed Ama Agbeze and Geoff Thompson to the board of the Birmingham 2022 organising committee (Kirsty O'Connor/PA)

Last year, the organising committee was criticised for its near entirely white board and executive management team.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin subsequently stepped down from the board to help improve representation, with Barbados-based Sandra Osborne taking her place.

Birmingham-born Agbeze, a qualified lawyer, also won bronze at the Melbourne Games in 2006 and has held a number of roles as an ambassador, trustee and board member to various charitable organisations, including Commonwealth Games England.

She hopes to make the Games a celebration of "sport, community, culture and equality".

“Being part of the organising committee for a Commonwealth Games that will showcase your home city and its surroundings to the world is an absolute privilege for me - a definite once in a lifetime opportunity which I will relish”
- Ama Agbeze

"Having a major competition on your doorstep is a rarity," said Agbeze in a statement.

"Therefore, being part of the organising committee for a Commonwealth Games that will showcase your home city and its surroundings to the world is an absolute privilege for me – a definite once in a lifetime opportunity which I will relish.

"I am looking forward to fully engaging with the role and working with the rest of the board to ensure the Games are a celebration of sport, community, culture and equality."

The board oversees the planning and delivery of Birmingham 2022, which is scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8 next year.

Birmingham will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Joe Giddens/PA)

It comprises sports, civic and business experts and leaders representing Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, the UK Government, Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games England.

Thompson has experience in the bidding, hosting and legacy planning of major events including the Manchester 2002 and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, in addition to being the founder of UK-based international charity Youth Charter.

He recently became a new non-executive director at the Professional Footballers' Association.

"My aim is to contribute to the delivery of a Games that will bring the global Commonwealth community together and celebrate a diversity of legacy, hope and opportunity to our young people and communities both at home and abroad," said Thompson.

Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin stepped down from the Birmingham 2022 board last year (Jacob King/PA)

Local politicians had called for more black and ethnic minority board members to better reflect the West Midlands region.

Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: "Having both competed at the highest level and excelled in work across sport more widely, I know their experience will be invaluable to the board.

"They will play an important role in delivering the biggest sporting and cultural event the West Midlands has ever held, showcasing the best of the UK in what will be a landmark year for the country."

Board chairman John Crabtree added: "Their sporting expertise speaks for itself – they are world beaters and incredibly inspiring individuals. They know what it takes to seize an opportunity in order to achieve something great.

"They are very welcome additions to the board."

amp_article__435468 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-02-16 11:22:20:
html db last update - 2021-02-16 11:22:20 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Ama Agbeze

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .