BOA overturns decision to grant The Voice Olympic stadium accreditation

Today (18 July), The Voice said it was not a "black issue" but the "collective will" of the people, after nearly 3,000 people signed a petition to grant The Voice, Britain’s biggest black newspaper, accreditation to the Olympic Park.

The protest attracted widespread support from the likes of Mayor Boris Johnson and MPs Tessa Jowell and David Lammy.

Central to the campaign was Zita Holbourne, a member of the TUC's race relations committee. The BOA made its original decision on Monday, but overturned it today.

The u-turn means The Voice’s journalists will now be able to report from the London Olympic stadium and its media centre. The paper previously only had accreditation to Olympic football matches.

Rodney Hinds, sports editor at The Voice, said: "Thanks to everyone who got behind Zita’s campaign. It’s proof that people power does work and we’re humbled by the public's response.

"While it's a shame it had to get this far, credit to the BOA and IOC for agreeing to let us cover the games."

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk