Nominations Open for Sporting Equals Awards 2024

UK charity Sporting Equals has opened nominations for their 2024 Annual Awards, which celebrate race equality in sport and physical activity.

The awards focus on elite and grassroots sports – celebrating achievements and profiling ethnically diverse role models. They also aim to put the spotlight on the challenges that are still faced across the sports sector and the action required.

The ceremony will take place on 5th October 2024 at the Royal Lancaster London and will be delivered in collaboration with Sport England to support the ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy, which aims to tackle racism and improve race quality within sport.

New for this year is the Mind Mental Health Award, which highlights the inequality in access to sports and physical activity and how that impacts mental health. Research by Mind has shown that exercise can reduce the risk of depression by as much as 30%. Only 55% of ethnically diverse people are likely to be physically active, compared to 62% of white people.

Arun Kang OBE, Chief Executive of Sporting Equals said: “We are really excited to deliver the 8th edition of the Awards in partnership with Sport England who empathise with the importance of these Awards, to acknowledge the contribution made by ethnically diverse communities in sport and to inspire the next generation.

“The Sporting Equals Awards are a chance to celebrate the effect that ethnically diverse people and communities have on the sport and physical activity sector. The awards also provide the opportunity to reflect on the changes that still need to be made.

“I encourage those who are impacted by ethnically diverse community heroes to get nominating. Recognising their achievements will help inspire and increase more diverse volunteers, coaches, elite athletes and sports administrators.”

Viveen Taylor, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Sport England, said: “Sport belongs to everyone but is not yet an equal or welcome space for all. Tackling inequalities is at the heart of Uniting the Movement and until everyone feels able to take part in the sport and activity they want – without fear of prejudice or judgement – our work continues.

“We’re proud to be a partner of the Sporting Equals Awards; it’s a chance to celebrate and showcase progress from across the country with race equality, and spotlight the work that still needs to be done.”

The full list of awards for 2024 includes:

• • Sportswoman of the Year
  • Sportsman of the Year
  • Rising Star of the Year
  • Youth Sport Trust Young Sportsperson of the Year
  • England Athletics Coach of the Year
  • Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year
  • LTA Tennis Foundation Community Tennis Award
  • Swim England Award
  • The FA Community Champion of the Year
  • Mind Wellbeing Award
  • Sports Organisation of the Year Award
  • Gamechanger of the Year Award
  • Sporting Equals Lifetime Achievement Award

Nominations are now open until the 8th September. For more information about the Sporting Equals Awards, including how to nominate please visit Sporting Equals.