Chris Boardman MBE appointed as new Chair of Sport England

By GreaterSport | 30 June 2021 | TAGS:

Chris Boardman MBE has been appointed as the new chair of Sport England for a four year term.

The news will see Chris carry out a four-year term from 22 July 2021 to 21 July 2025. He takes over from Nick Bitel who has held the post of Chair since 2013, and will play a critical role in supporting and developing grassroots sport and physical activity and getting more people active across the country as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. He will also play a key role in supporting Sport England to deliver on its ambitious 10-year strategy, Uniting the Movement, published earlier this year.

Chris will continue his Greater Manchester role, which last month was expanded to Greater Manchester’s first Transport Commissioner. Which will see him being tasked with helping to accelerate the delivery of the Bee Network – a fully integrated transport system, including the roll-out of the UK’s largest cycling and walking network.

Chris Boardman MBE said:

"I am delighted to take up the position of Chair for Sport England. Sport and activity are central to my own life and it’s clear they have a heightened importance for all of us right now. I am looking forward to helping the team bring opportunities to be active to more people than ever before."

In the same announcement Dame Katherine Grainger DBE was also reappointed as Chair of UK Sport. 

Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:

"As we head into a major summer of sport with fans finally returning, the Euros, the Toyko Games, and the Rugby League World Cups to name a few, I am thrilled that we now have two Olympic heroes in Chris and Dame Katherine steering the growth of grassroots and professional sport in this country.

"I will be working closely with them as we place sport and physical activity at the heart of our recovery plan to build back better and fitter from this pandemic."

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of Sport England, said:

“With his background as a successful athlete and his incredible work in transforming attitudes to cycling and activity in our communities, Chris is a fantastic appointment as Chair of Sport England and we’re really looking forward to working with him. As we begin to deliver on our ambitious 10 year strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’, I have no doubt that Chris will play a significant leadership role and play a crucial part in our work to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity.

“Chris is building on the fantastic eight years of his predecessor and I am so grateful to Nick for his counsel, support, experience and wisdom during my three years as CEO and for everything he has done to ensure Sport England is in the best possible shape to thrive in the years to come. He has been a brilliant Chair and we have been lucky to have him.”

Hayley Lever, CEO at GreaterSport and Exec Lead for GM Moving, said:

"I’d like to send my congratulations and support to Chris in his new role, on behalf of GreaterSport and GM Moving partners as he chairs Sport England in their leadership of Uniting The Movement Strategy. He is playing a pivotal role in Greater Manchester ambitions to support active lives and we look forward to working with him as we play our part in GM Moving and Uniting the Movement"