The extent of racial equality in British sport is being questioned this week after the joint governing bodies for angling were awarded the preliminary standard for racial equality.

The award was given by Sporting Equals, the body working to promote racial equality within sport throughout England.

Forum Response: Royal Yachting Association

Neil Northmore, Royal Yachting Association government affairs adviser, told ePolitix.com: "The present government has identified a need to open up the benefits of sport to all sectors of society to promote social inclusion.

"Governing bodies have been encouraged by the sports councils to identify inequalities that exist within their sports and to accept that they have an ethical, moral and business responsibility to plan for the inclusion of a wider range of participants.

"Organisations or clubs that exclude sectors of the population from their activities, whether directly or indirectly, are viewed as anachronistic and increasingly unacceptable.

"The sports represented by the RYA are open to a far wider range of people than many other sports. Men and women, able-bodied and disabled, young and old can all take part.

"There is little evidence of deliberate or systematic discrimination in our sports, but we recognise that whilst RYA Sailability's work has done and continues to do a great deal to achieve full integration for sailors with disabilities, there is a gender, race and social class imbalance in our sports when compared with the general population."What we do not know is whether women and members of ethnic minorities participate in lower numbers because they are unaware of the opportunities available to them, or because they choose to take up other sports and activities, or because they are, or perceive themselves to be, excluded."Data is now being gathered which will give us a clearer picture of the current position so that the effects of future actions can be measured and evaluated."