Chris Boardman will continue to be our Chair for a second term of four years, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed.
During his first term, the Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist guided the sector through the challenges of the pandemic and championed our long-term strategy, Uniting the Movement, to make sport and physical activity accessible to everyone regardless of background or income.
In recent years he has also been a leading voice for our sector in response to the impact of climate change through initiatives like Every Move – our first ever environmental sustainability strategy – launching dedicated funding for green projects and embarking on last summer's Pedal for Paris.
Chris, who will begin his second term on 22 July, said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to continue to serve as Chair of Sport England.
“Sport and physical activity have the power to transform lives and communities and, through our Uniting the Movement strategy, we’ll continue to work with the sector to ensure everyone – regardless of their background or personal circumstances – has the chance to enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.
“A healthy, active population has never been more important: whether it’s reducing the burden on the NHS, contributing to economic growth or leading the fightback against climate change, sport is uniquely placed to drive progress, and I will ensure Sport England continues to lead from the front in driving positive change.”
Born in Merseyside in 1968, Boardman was 24 when he won Britain’s first Olympic cycling gold medal in 73 years in Barcelona '92. He then went on to claim several world titles and wore the leader’s jersey in the Tour de France on three occasions before retiring in 2000.
After his sporting career ended, Chris’s passion for cycling evolved into a broader commitment to promoting active travel and helping people integrate physical activity into their daily lives, and in June 2021 he started his first term as our Chair.