Show Racism the Red Card statement on alleged racist incident during the Great North Run
No one should have to endure racist abuse while doing something as simple, joyful, and personal as running. Emma described this as her “worst experience” in ten years of racing, and her words, “hate has no place in running” should resonate with everyone who cares about sport being a space of belonging, not exclusion.
Racism does not stay confined to stadiums, changing rooms, or comment sections. As this incident shows, it can surface anywhere Black and Brown people are visible in public, including on a residential street, from a crowd gathered to cheer on strangers. That should trouble all of us, not just those directly affected.
Those who chose to promote messages that demonstrate their concerns about the impact of immigration can do so in a way that does not cross a line into the scapegoating and harassment of individuals or communities based on their identities. A person can have an opinion on immigration without abusing others. It is clear that this was not the case during the incident experienced by Emma Kirk-Odunubi during the Great North Run, and we condemn the alleged actions of those involved in singling out someone based solely on the colour of their skin – this action is racist and prejudicial and clearly moves beyond the expression of an opinion.
We know Emma’s experience will not be an isolated one. For every person who speaks out publicly, many others carry similar experiences in silence, often because there is no clear way to report abuse mid-event, or because they fear not being believed. We want any runner who has faced this kind of treatment at the Great North Run or any other event to know they are not alone, and that what happened to them was wrong.
We are calling on organisers of mass-participation events, including the Great North Run, to:
- Publicly and unequivocally condemn racist abuse on their courses
- Introduce clear, accessible ways for runners to report discrimination during and after events
- Work with stewards, marshals, and local police to ensure reports are followed up and taken seriously
Sport should be one of the most powerful tools we have for bringing people together. Show Racism the Red Card has spent over 30 years working to challenge racism in sport and beyond, and we remain committed to supporting runners, athletes, and communities affected by this kind of abuse.
SRtRC