UK Athletics Launches 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan
UK Athletics (UKA) is pleased to launch its 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, reiterating the organisation’s commitment to progress towards more inclusion and representation at the elite level of…
UK Athletics (UKA) is pleased to launch its 2026 Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, reiterating the organisation’s commitment to progress towards more inclusion and representation at the elite level of athletics.
This progression has been marked by enhanced training, improved representation in leadership and governance, and stronger accountability measures. Building on the success of the various global athletics championships during 2025, UKA recognises the need to create a high-performance system that truly reflects the diversity of the UK. With a high proportion of individual medallists being women and a significant representation of ethnically diverse athletes in the team, this action plan seeks to expand opportunities and remove barriers to enable participation across all domains at the elite level of athletics.
UK Athletics Head of HR, Ralph Knipps said, “The DIAP has evolved into a framework that supports measurable action and continuous improvement.
“The 2026 DIAP builds on this progress, setting out clear priorities and practical actions to strengthen inclusion, celebrate diversity and create equitable opportunities for our athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff.
“While important progress has been made, we recognise that inclusion is an ongoing journey. We remain committed to listening, learning and working collaboratively to ensure everyone involved in athletics feels valued, respected and able to reach their full potential.”
The 2026 DIAP maps out the four key priority areas for the year:
– inclusive governance
– recruitment and retention
– engagement and representation
– reaffirming UKA’s commitment to ensuring that the sport is welcoming to everyone, regardless of background, gender, or ability.
UK Athletics’ Equality Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Lorna Dwyer is also supporting the organisation to ensure this is embedded across all staff work plans, as this DIAP represents a collective commitment and ownership across UK Athletics.