The sporting achievements of Britain’s black and minority ethnic (BME) sportsmen and women will be recognised at a brand new awards ceremony next year.
The British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) will be held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry in February 2015.
BEDSA will be the first awards of its kind to celebrate the achievements of ethnic minority communities in British sport, and UK Sport, as the nation’s high performance sports agency, will be backing the Award for ‘Inspirational Performance of the Year’, in recognition of the important role our elite sportsmen and women play in inspiring the nation.
Elite sports personalities from the past and present will celebrate sporting success and help inspire the next generation of sporting talent at the event, which will recognise the contribution of sport towards increasing participation, social cohesion and promoting excellence.
Helen Grant MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities, who promotes diversity in sport from grassroots to high performance and boardroom level, and will be attending the inaugural event, said: “I want to see everyone succeed in and get the benefits from their chosen sport. That is why it is important that we celebrate and inspire Britain's younger generation. I congratulate the organisers for arranging what promises to be a fantastic evening."
The award ceremony will be attended by more than 800 guests and nominees, with a star studded line up of entertainment and guests, and gives an opportunity to raise money for charitable organisation Sporting Equals, who work to raise awareness of the talents within today’s ethnically diverse Britain and encourage more people to take up sport.
Awards will be presented for sporting achievement over the past 12 months in the following categories:
- Young Sports Person of the Year
- Unsung Hero Award
- Coach of the Year
- Behind the Scenes Award
- Community Sports Project
- Inspirational Performance of the Year
- Sportsman of the Year
- Sportswoman of the Year
To nominate your sporting heroes, visit the BEDSA website.
In addition, two special awards will be presented on the night, selected by the judging panel and sponsor:
- Lifetime Achievement
- Special Recognition Award