BBC Sport takes a stand against transphobes targeting Olympian Laurel Hubbard: ‘Hate won’t win’

BBC Sport has taken a stand against transphobic comments being left under its coverage of New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard, who made history competing in the 2020 Olympic Games.

The broadcaster’s official Twitter page shared a message to all its followers Sunday (1 August) which included the hashtag #HateWontWin.

Following on from a post about Hubbard, BBC Sport said it wants its platforms to be a “respectful place for discussion, constructive criticism, debate and opinion”.

But following transphobic comments about Hubbard’s inclusion in the Olympics, BBC Sport said it would start cracking down on hate in its comments.

As well as blocking offenders, BBC Sport said it will report the “most serious cases to the relevant authorities”.

It pledged to “keep covering issues and discussions around equality in sport” and called on followers to flag any posts “with an expression of hate on the basis of race, colour, gender, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, sex, age or class”.

“Together we will strive to make our social media accounts a safe space for everyone,” BBC Sport wrote. “If we’re on the same team, hate won’t win.”