Lyn Garner, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation

They say a week is a long time in politics, it’s also true for sport. A week ago we were basking in the glory of the semi-final victory, the anticipation of the final to come and the pride in the team. That pride, shared by the vast majority of the country, was not only because of their sporting skill but also for the way they have conducted themselves and used their position to highlight issues such as child poverty, LGBTQ+ rights and, of course, racism.

Now those same players – who remain united as a team – are facing very personal attacks as three of our young stars, including one who is still a teenager, had to face abhorrent racist attacks through social media.

The debate has continued in recent days and I know that these selfish racist acts will have affected all of you as they affected me.  I feel personally disgusted by this behaviour and I know you will too. 

This week I heard Lewis Hamilton talking on the radio about his achievements in F1.  He is the only black racing driver in F1 but clearly not the only black racing talent. He talked about how when he wins a race he feels fantastic but explained that this feeling was short lived and he was asking himself – what is all this for?  Why me? Why was I chosen as the only black person to be in this sport?  

On hearing this I immediately recalled the words of the song by Stormzy – The Crown.  Moving lyrics describe how very successful people from an underrepresented minority often feel an overwhelming sense of duty to others from their own minority community who have not been as successful as them.  I wonder whether this is how our football heroes feel when they run out onto the pitch to represent their club or indeed the nation?  And then, how must it feel when having achieved so much and come so far, they then receive appalling abuse? 

Hamilton described how he had been excluded from school as a youngster and how that had made him feel.  His experiences and his reflections on his success drove him to  set up the Hamilton Commission that is dedicated to improving the representation of black people in motor sport.  And, in a similar vein, it’s only a few short months since we were celebrating the efforts of the very brave Marcus Rashford, who publicly stood up to politicians and won the right to free school meals in the summer months for some of the poorest children in our country. 

The three Olympic values are excellence, friendship and respect.  Our mission includes the aim to improve the lives of all east Londoners and our venues and Park are here for all local people whatever their background.  

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka and others who were targeted for the colour of their skin are all players we are looking forward to seeing against West Ham at London Stadium next season. They will line up against Declan Rice, their England team mate but club rival.  We are privileged to have the world’s best players here in the Stadium at the heart of the Park. The achievements of these footballers will inspire young people in the same way that the athletes of 2012 inspired a generation when we were fortunate enough to host the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.  

Racism has no place in this stadium or any other. It should have no place on social media either. At our venues there is zero tolerance to this behaviour and we will always work with West Ham, the police and local authorities to drive it out and punish those responsible. That includes life time bans from the stadium. 

Let us make sure that we support the outstanding efforts of our sportsmen and women and be very clear that there is NO PLACE for racism here.