Tom Daley has called for anti-LGBT legislation in countries to be barred from hosting future Commonwealth Games.
Daley won a gold medal in the 10m synchro with Matty Lee at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, as well as three Olympic bronze medals.
The 28-year-old, who came out as gay in 2013, has blasted sports organisations for allowing major events to be held in countries where homosexuality is illegal.
“It would be illegal for me to exist in 35 of the Commonwealth’s 56 states,” Daley explained.
“These days most international sporting bodies claim that they’re inclusive of LGBT people.
“But just this year the football World Cup and Formula One are both being hosted in countries which have the death penalty for being gay (Qatar and Saudi Arabia),” he said in an upcoming BBC documentary titled “Tom Daley: Illegal to Be Me.”
“As a former medal winner, the Commonwealth Games are close to my heart and I want to convince it to become the first sporting event to really take a stand,” the Olympic champion added.
“I’ve been told that sport and politics shouldn’t collide. But at the same time you have to acknowledge what is going on around you.
“My wish right now is to get the Commonwealth Games to say that they will not allow any country that has anti-LGBT laws to be able to host the Commonwealth Games.
“I know that is a bold wish, but it has to start somewhere to create some change.”