The UK needs more black women in sporting leadership roles, says Olympic star Christine Ohuruogu who took part in debate about black people and sport.

She was among a group of black sporting personalities who took part in The Great Sports Debate at Hackney Picturehouse.

The event was hosted by Words of Colour Productions in collaboration with Hackney Council as part of it’s Black History Month. It was chaired by Words of Colour founder Joy Francis and the panellists took part in a debate to tackle some of the difficult and complex issues of black people,including how accessible sport now is and the tension between education and sport. They also discussed sport as a recreation, black people’s role in sport and racism in sport and the media today.

Christine Ohuruogu MBE, 400m World Champion and Olympic gold medallist, said: “The UK needs more black and female representatives in sporting leadership roles. You need to be better than the best to be seen and heard [in governing bodies].

“Sport is what helped me do well at school. It teaches children skills such as discipline, focus, commitment and competitiveness. It shouldn’t be one or the other.”

The Newham & Essex Beagles athlete, who won a silver medal in the 400m of the 2012 Olympics and a gold in Beijing in 2008, grew up less than a mile from the Olympic Stadium.

The panel also included Kevin Hylton, Professor of Equality and Diversity in Sport, Leisure and Education, Leeds Metropolitan University; Margaret Adeoye, London 2012 Olympian and World Champion 4x400m bronze medallist and Paul Canoville who was Chelsea Football Club’s first black player.