The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the organisers of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are pleased to announce the signature of a Ride Together Pledge committing to creating an inclusive, diverse and accessible event in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 to 13 August 2023.
The Ride Together Pledge supports the key principles of the event’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Framework, using the platform of a global event as a catalyst for change, in addition to delivering an event that has inclusion at its core.
Under the Pledge, partners and key stakeholders have signed up to five key commitments:
Promoting inclusion through the power of the bike, improving wellbeing, and building a fairer, more inclusive society for all
Committing to the growth and sustainability of women and girls cycling in Scotland
Embedding inclusivity and accessibility into event planning for each of the 13 UCI World Championships
Building partnerships, initiating conversations, and seeking out opportunities to activate programmes in support of EDI
Using the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships to raise awareness about EDI.
By joining the Pledge, participants will be challenged to actively make a positive difference to the lives of others by harnessing the power of the bike to build a more inclusive Scotland. This entails building a foundation of trust and confidence with people at a local, national, and global level.
Other signatories so far include UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life, Scottish Cycling and various event delivery partners, with more to join in the lead-up to the event.
The initiative also ensures that those who are most vulnerable in society, impacted by stigma and discrimination and excluded from sport and public life are included in this narrative.
UCI Director General Amina Lanaya said: “The beauty of our sport is its ability to unite populations regardless of their gender, religion, origins or political beliefs. I am therefore delighted by this Ride Together Pledge. It will contribute to an accessible UCI Cycling World Championships where everyone feels welcome and will be encouraged to continue benefitting from the bike even after the event. Equality, diversity and inclusion are interwoven into the UCI’s policies and documents, and this Pledge is perfectly in line with our work to ensure everyone can enjoy the wonderful sport of cycling.”
Trudy Lindblade, Chief Executive Officer, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “I would like to thank the UCI, our partners and key stakeholders who have joined us in signing up to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ride Together Pledge. We are committed to making a difference through the power of the bike using the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships as the platform to not only generate discussion but to enable us to ‘ride together’ to achieve long lasting change with the belief that the power of the bike can mean something to everyone, regardless of who you are."