British athletes from the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, Team GB, ParalympicsGB and Special Olympics GB have united as the faces of a powerful new diversity and inclusion campaign.

The ‘This is What a Level Playing Field Looks Like’ is a landmark campaign calling for fairer representation. The digital out of home campaign, donated by Ocean Outdoor, recognises the importance and contribution of everyone no matter their ability, gender, race, sexual orientation or belief. 

The six athletes featured in the ‘This is What a Level Playing Field Looks Like’ campaign are working to make opportunities more accessible to diverse and marginalised groups. 

The participating Olympians and Paralympians are British rower and World Cup silver medallist Kyra Edwards; Tokyo 2020 silver medallist and European BMX champion Kye Whyte; British alpine skier and ParalympicsGB’s most decorated winter athlete Menna FitzPatrick MBE and her competition guide Katie Guest; and Special Olympics GB athletes Mitchell Camp and Lily Mills who compete in track and field and tennis respectively. 

A two minute digital out of home spot that combines sports action with original photography was revealed on the Piccadilly Lights in London earlier this month. The film will appear across other large format outdoor screens in nine cities ahead of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin (June 17 to June 25), with related content rolling out until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The campaign was created in-house by Ocean. 

Seven thousand athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete at the Special Olympics World Games. Despite being one of the world’s largest inclusive sports events, the Games are still largely ignored by the mainstream media. To address this, for the first time ever footage from the Special Olympics World Games will appear on outdoor screens in 10 cities and Ocean will host a fan zone at Westfield London for a week, sponsored by Toyota. 

Ocean head of content and sponsorship Kevin Henry said: “This initiative uses the power of sport to speak to inclusivity, overcome prejudice and challenge the culture around marginalised groups. Our inspirational role models are the faces of an outdoor campaign to reframe conversations about fairer representation without limits.” 

Dave Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB, explained: “As a disabled person I know how important fair representation can be to challenging perceptions and breaking down the barriers we face in our daily lives. This exciting new campaign harnesses the unique power of sport to combat discrimination wherever it exists and demonstrates the potential that lives in each and every one of us. Nothing could exemplify this more than Britain’s most successful winter athlete Menna Fitzpatrick and I am delighted she and Katie Guest feature in this powerful campaign.”

Colin Dyer, CEO for Special Olympics Great Britain, said: “The campaign will be an incredibly impactful way to shine a light on the continued fight for inclusion across all areas of society, and the role that sport and those who participate in it can play in raising awareness of key issues. I am delighted that Special Olympics GB and our athletes are able to play their part in amplifying this message – particularly with the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin just around the corner.”

Ocean’s equality, diversity and inclusion campaign will be amplified on social media with the hashtag #daretodream, featuring the athletes as they prepare, train and compete in their competitions. There will be an event in London with partners, athletes, sponsors and special guests this autumn.

Carly Hodgson, head of marketing at Team GB, added: “The diversity of Team GB is reflective of the diversity of our nation, and we are proud that our athletes and their stories resonate with fans from across Great Britain. Telling these stories is an incredibly important part of celebrating both the athletes’ achievements and inspiring the next generation. We are proud to be supporting this initiative through our partnership with Ocean Outdoor, who share these values, along with our friends at ParalympicsGB and Special Olympics GB.”