NCAA to host Sports Diversity and Inclusion Symposium
Event to be held Tuesday and Wednesday in Indianapolis
The NCAA, in partnership with Olympic, Paralympic, professional and amateur sports organizations, will host the fifth annual Sports Diversity and Inclusion Symposium on Tuesday and Wednesday in Indianapolis.
The symposium is a forum to evaluate and create tangible solutions to drive improved diversity and inclusion in today’s sports culture. The forum also allows administrators to celebrate and encourage diversification in the world of sports. Discussions will focus on ethnic minority and gender advancement; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning issues; strategic recruiting and hiring; supplier diversity sourcing; updates on disability opportunities in sports; and corporate social responsibility.
Symposium participants will include members of the Diversity and Inclusion Sports Consortium, which was formed in 2012 and consists of representatives from the NCAA, NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, PGA, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, the United States Olympic Committee, the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, and the U.S. Tennis Association.
“The NCAA is pleased to host the Sports Diversity and Inclusion Symposium this year in Indianapolis, with the NCAA national office serving as the setting for individuals to discuss diversity best practices and how to be more impactful and inclusive in sports,” said Bernard Franklin, NCAA executive vice president of education and community engagement and NCAA chief inclusion officer. “The symposium is gaining more attention as a place where sports organizations are sharing ideas and monitoring issues surrounding diversity and inclusion.”
Each consortium organization has the opportunity to host the two-day symposium: The NFL hosted in 2012; the USOC in 2013; the PGA in 2014; and MLB last year.