Olympic ambassadors in sexist row

Oct 12 2006 By David Bell, Birmingham Mail

A TEAM of high profile ambassadors drawn up to promote Birmingham's attempt to cash in on the 2012 Olympic Games is dominated by men, leading to angry "sexist bias" claims.

The team includes Olympians like rower Sir Adrian Cadbury and cyclist Tommy Godwin, along with ex-Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis and Warwickshire cricketer Dennis Amiss.

The only woman in the team, which will attempt to earn the city a £300 million slice of Olympic Games earnings, is Birmingham City managing director Karren Brady.

City councillors have registered a formal protest after condemning the lack of women. Now the team is to be hastily revised to show a better balance between the sexes.

Coun Margaret Waddington complained the ambassadorial roll call reeked of sexist bias and ignored many women who had brought sporting fame to Birmingham and the West Midlands.

City head of sport Brian Stocks said the sales team had been chosen by council leader Coun Mike Whitby.

But after hearing the criticism he promised councillors: "We will take this forward."

Cabinet leisure chief Ray Hassall explained there had been no intention to produce a list of Olympic ambassadors dominated by men.

City Olympic medal winner Denise Lewis was among those invited to join the team. "But she didn't turn up at the launch. We can't really appoint her as ambassador," he said.

The main target of the city's promotion is China. It hopes to persuade the Chinese to base its 2012 London Olympics squad in Birmingham.

However, it is targeting other countries too.

Meanwhile, steps to provide the city with an Olympic sized swimming pool as part of an Aston University sports complex are making progress.

Negotiations are taking place with regional development agency Advantage West Midlands for a £9 million grant towards the £40 million project.

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