Improving diversity, equity and inclusion in sport – lessons from Australia and the UAE

This article was written and first published by LawInSport.You can view the original version here

Seven players for the Manly Seahawks in the National Rugby League have refused to play in jerseys with rainbow trim during Australia’s 2022 NRL season. The design is called “everyone in the league’ kit, intended to be worn by the team as a one-off to celebrate inclusivity, but it’s called “jersey will comesupporting the LGBTIQ+ community because of the use of a rainbow color palette. Seven players objected to wearing jerseys on religious and cultural grounds because rule The National Football League requires all players on the team to wear “Featured” (seems to be interpreted as “exactly the same“) jersey¹opted not to play in a jersey.

making story International headlines² And widely circulated in Australia. Instead of uniting the NFL community to promote inclusion, this issue has divided the Manly Seahawks, NFL fans and the general public. While some argue that sports clubs have no right to impose a particular ideology on their players, others argue that wearing a jersey is only for them”Work“.

This”jersey will come” The controversy underscores an important message to all organizations looking to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (of) – Even well-intentioned initiatives can have unintended consequences. With this in mind, and drawing inspiration from other events in the sporting world, this article examines some interesting examples from Australia and the UAE, and then proposes some “competition rules” for organizations to follow to reduce the risk of unintended results.

What are DEIs?

DEI is now considered a critical element of any organization. Broadly speaking, DEI is often used to describe initiatives by employers or other organizations to improve and maintain fair and equitable treatment for all, including those who have been historically underrepresented or discriminated against.

To comply with anti-discrimination legislation, DEI now does more than check boxes. Adoption of the DEI program is said to enhance brand reputation, increase innovation, and improve business performance. In addition, employers who employ DEI reportedly report higher employee satisfaction and lower rates of unconscious bias, bullying, and harassment.

Sports organizations in particular are embracing the DEI program. This is done by introducing broad inclusion policies, or launching specific programs to address issues of racial equality, homophobia, gender equality, transgender issues, and religious inclusion.

read the script

One of the biggest lessons to emerge from the Manly Seahawks jersey controversy is that negotiation is key. Players who refused to wear the jersey on religious grounds expressed disappointment that they had not consulted with the entire playing team about wearing it. Players reportedly discovered the jersey at a media release and knew they needed to wear it, and the boycott was not entirely about the jersey itself, but also included a lack of consultation about players’ religious and cultural beliefs.

In fact, despite the best intentions, the Manly Sea Eagles’ decision to implement a DEI initiative that appealed to the masses failed because it failed to consider how it might affect others who might be affected. The club noted that it had learned from the experience and would consult players more widely should the move be taken again. All organizations should similarly seek cross-sectoral consultations with stakeholders and, where possible, allow those who will be affected by the initiative to opt out if they do not wish to participate.

on the field

As the DEI has grown, so have expectations regarding the suitability of clothing and apparel that may previously have been considered acceptable. In 2021, the Norwegian beach handball team is refusing to wear the mandatory bikini bottoms that have been their official game uniform for years.wearing shorts, not bikini bottoms Yes “Cut for a close fit that slopes up toward the top of the leg“³the team was fined €1,500 for “improperly dressed” ruling Disciplinary Committee of the European Handball Federation⁴. After public scrutiny, the International Handball Federation decided change the rules women are required to wear “Tight shorts“⁵ During the game.

To embrace DEI, uniforms and other apparel cannot be one-size-fits-all. Organizations should ensure that they do not impose requirements that do not allow individuals to embrace their culture, sexual orientation or beliefs.Just like Netball NSW formulate guidelines⁶ For inclusive uniforms (allowing uniforms to cover additional body surfaces including legs, arms and/or head) to create “A more welcoming and inclusive pitching environment”, organizations should ensure that they do not impose requirements on employees that do not allow them to embrace their culture, sexual orientation or beliefs.

celebrate victory

Non-drinking Muslim Usman Khawaja gets involved in celebrations following Australian cricket’s victory over England in the 2021/2022 Ashes Test series spray champagne⁷After noticing his absence, several players, including Australia captain Patrick Cummins, told teammates to put down the champagne bottles and invited Khawaja back to the podium. The millions of people watching at the time probably never considered such a “traditional“The festivities will mean certain players won’t be able to attend.

One case the author dealt with years ago involved a complaint of discrimination in the workplace by a young Muslim woman. She felt as if she was being treated differently by her peers and said she often felt excluded from workplace activities. One such event is a monthly office barbecue, where sausages are grilled on site and served for lunch. The company had considered the event, bringing employees together on Friday afternoons, but it had the opposite effect for the complainants, who ate a halal diet and didn’t drink alcohol. In many situations, such as this one, there is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to keep people from feeling uncomfortable or excluded.

Reforms in the UAE

Currently, the United Arab Emirates is going through a period of great change, and diversity has been the focus of many organizations and positive steps are being taken from a public policy perspective.For example, this year, the UAE implemented a new labor law⁸ All forms of discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace are now explicitly prohibited. More broadly, the UAE continues to place high priority on implementing measures to meet the needs of persons with disabilities (known in thedetermined person”). For example, the Ministry of Community Development ( digital cd ) published in Abu Dhabi ” Comprehensive People of Determination Strategy 2020-2024“⁹a new government initiative focused on creating an accessible and enabling environment for people of determination in terms of buildings, facilities, transport, housing and other services.

The overlap between the DEI and the sporting scene has also become more pronounced in the UAE in recent years, with a number of local initiatives and milestones including:

• In mid-2009, the UAE Football Association was established Women’s Soccer Committee¹⁰ Committed to building a national team that can officially represent the country internationally.
• The first Emirati women to represent their country at the Beijing and London Olympics in 2008, as well as at the Swimming World Championships in August 2015;
• Abu Dhabi’s first Special Olympics World Games¹¹ in the Middle East and North Africa (Middle East and North Africa) area.
• The Arab Women’s Sports Championship was held in Sharjah in February 2020 with record attendance, featuring 78 clubs from 18 Arab countries, while in August the Dubai Sports Council hosted the Women’s Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Handball Skills Championships with players from the UAE joined remotely by online competitors from around the world due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• A partnership between Expo 2020 Dubai and the Luxembourg Ministry of Sports resulted in a community event called Cycling for Youth, Diversity and Inclusion, offering UAE residents the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Chances of riding around Tour de France winner Andy Schleck.

Sports bodies such as FIFA and commercial brands such as Nike have also acknowledged the significant growth of sport in the Middle East, new regulations for the use of hijab in football and the introduction of sportswear lines are “hijab friendly“. The International Basketball Federation ( FIBA ) Decide Lift the ban¹² Regarding the use of “Headgear, Hair Accessories & Jewelry2017 was another example of a shift towards more inclusive regulation in sports, with athletes now allowed to wear turbans, turbans and other forms of religious headgear.

Given the continued growth and evolution of the UAE statutory framework (in relation to the DEI) during this exciting period of transition, we expect additional measures and efforts by the relevant local authorities to improve the DEI UAE in sports arenas and other business sectors.

competition rules

While DEI means different things to different organizations, some steps to improve DEI in your organization may include:

• Ensure employees understand what DEI is and why DEI initiatives are important through education and training.
• Develop and implement policies to promote DEI, including anti-discrimination, harassment and bullying policies.
• Involve employees from different departments when developing workplace plans.
• Employees are not compelled to take DEI initiatives where such actions may conflict with personally held values ​​or beliefs.
• It is hoped that a DEI committee will be established that will be tasked with considering initiatives through a DEI lens.
• Set measurable DEI goals around company demographics, retention and engagement scores.
• Review employee policies and benefits to ensure they are non-discriminatory and promote DEI culture.
• Analyze salary data to identify pay gaps and take action to close any gaps that exist.
• Hold senior executives and managers accountable and ensure they”no sooner said than done”.