PDC to support 2022 Rainbow Laces campaign

Rainbow Laces

The Professional Darts Corporation is again proud to support the 2022 Rainbow Laces campaign, which is promoting the message that 'inclusion has no off-season'.

Rainbow Laces is the annual sports-focused campaign organised by Stonewall, an organisation who support LGBTQ+ people in the UK and promote positive change in public attitudes and policy.

Now in its tenth year, the Rainbow Laces campaign works to promote inclusion across sport and support the work of programmes by bodies at all levels.

To celebrate Rainbow Laces Day on Wednesday October 26, the PDC has announced its support for this year's campaign.

Players in the forthcoming Cazoo European Championship and Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts will be able to show their support by wearing rainbow laces or a Rainbow Laces pin badge.

In addition, the PDC's on-stage logo at the Grand Slam of Darts will adopt the rainbow branding of the campaign.

"We first teamed up with Stonewall in 2018 and remain fully supportive of the Rainbow Laces campaign and its key messages promoting inclusion across sport," said PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter.

"Our sport is open to everybody and darts is recognised around the world as being one of the most inclusive sports - being open to anyone regardless of gender, race, size or orientation.

"This has been a landmark year for the LGBTQ+ community in sport and the PDC will continue to be welcoming and inclusive for everybody to play, work or watch darts."

More LGBTQ+ sportspeople than ever are competing openly in 2022, with this year having seen over 40 openly LGBTQ+ athletes in action at the Commonwealth Games, seven members of England's successful Women's European Championship-winning team being openly gay and Blackpool's Jake Daniels being the UK's first active male footballer to come out as gay for 30 years.

PDC Referee Huw Ware is the LGBTQ+ ambassador for darts, and he said: "It's great to see the Rainbow Laces campaign being supported by the PDC for another year.

"Darts is a very supportive, inclusive environment and I am confident that it is a place where if anyone is struggling with their sexuality or gender identity, should they choose to come out, they would be accepted and supported in the best way.

"On a personal note I would like to thank the PDC for all their hard work in supporting the campaign."

The Rainbow Laces campaign has involved over 12 million people since 2013 and continues to drive change across sport - with this year's key message being that 'inclusion has no off-season'.

For more information, please visit the Stonewall website or follow StonewallUK on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.