January 2016 saw the first ever London Sport Awards take place at Lord’s Cricket Ground and was nothing less than memorable.
Sports broadcaster David Garrido led the proceedings that saw eight individuals and organisations recognised for their efforts in helping more Londoners to be more physically active.
Throughout the night, the event featured Question and Answer sessions with Boxing legend Barry McGuigan, European Hockey star Sophie Bray and Olympic fencer Laurence Halsted. There was also an interactive Twitter wall, some fantastic raffle prizes (including a tour of the Sky Sports Studios) and a fascinating LED sabre performance by British Fencing.
sabres
The evening was attended by over 400 guests from the world of sport, politics and business. And with the support of sponsors; Greater London Volunteering, Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy, Teamer, Decathlon, iSportconnect, Sport England, The British Olympic Association and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the eight Awards categories were highly contested.
With a total of 310 nominations, our expert panel had the great feat of reducing this number to a final shortlisted three in each of the eight categories. Chair of the panel was Olympic rower and Team GB Youth Olympic Games Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless MBE who said:
“Judging this year’s London Sport Awards really showed how much outstanding grassroots sport takes place in London on a daily basis. Not only tonight’s winners, but every nominated programme and individual, has shown a real commitment to bringing physical activity and sport into the lives of Londoners; it is great that we have been able to celebrate their achievements in this way.”
See the winners of each of the awards below:
Volunteer of the year – supported by Greater London Volunteering
TYRONE GEORGE
The Supporting Grassroots Organisations Award – supported by Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy
NEWHAM’S EVERY CHILD A SPORTS PERSON PROGRAMME
Coach of the Year – supported by Teamer
JEFF CLARKE
The Making it Easier Award – supported by Decathlon
OUR PARKS
The Resources Award – in partnership with iSportconnect
INTELLIGENT HEALTH – BEAT THE STREETS
The Bigger and Better Workforce Award – supported by Sport England
PARKRUN
The Harnessing the Power of Elite Sport Award – supported by The British Olympic Association
RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION – RUGBY WORLD CUP (AND PARTNERS)
Club of the Year – supported by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
SANJURO MARTIAL ARTS
Each category celebrated sport at grassroots level and acknowledged those that make it easier for people to be involved in physical activity and sport. Former boxing champion of the world Barry McGuigan whose Boxing Academy sponsored the Supporting Grassroots Award said:
“Having competed at the highest levels of my sport, I know just how much work goes into making sport a part of people’s lives. It isn’t an easy job, but it’s vital for the future of people across London, and especially our children, that physical activity and sport is made available to them
“I’m delighted to have been able to present Newham’s Every Child a Sportsperson with their award for Supporting Grassroots Organisations, and greatly admire the efforts of every single person nominated for a London Sport Award.”
London Sport would like to extend a massive congratulations to the nominees and thank all for their fantastic work in helping us along the way to make 1,000,000 Londoners more physically active.
