OLYMPIC judoka Natalie Powell hopes the creation of an inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community at Birmingham 2022 will help change minds in Commonwealth countries that criminalise homosexuality.

Pride House allows a safe space for LGBTQ+ supporters, athletes, staff, volunteers and organisations at the games, which begin in Birmingham this month.

But homosexuality remains a crime in nearly 40 Commonwealth countries, and the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association (ILGA) points out that same-sex sexual acts are punishable by death in Brunei and the northern states of Nigeria.

“The amount of Commonwealth Games countries that are not LGBT friendly is quite staggering,” 2014 gold medallist Powell, who is openly gay, told the PA news agency.

In “so many of them, it’s illegal to be gay. So many of them have crazy laws. This needs to change, and having a house where everybody can be included, not just LGBT people, is so important.

“Getting allies on board who can come to one space and be accepting of everybody for who they are, it’s a great initiative.

“I don’t know how far it will go in terms of making it acceptable in some of these countries where governments and laws need to change. But it’s a great place to start and hopefully these countries will take notice.”