BEDSA TO BE HELD AT THE RICOH ARENA

BRITISH ETHNIC DIVERSITY SPORTS AWARDS

The first awards of its kind to celebrate the achievements and progress made by ethnic minority communities in British sport will be held at the Ricoh Arena.

The inaugural British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) will be attended by Sports Minister Helen Grant in the E.ON Lounge on Saturday, February 21, 2015.

Elite sports personalities from the past and present will celebrate sporting success and inspire the next generation at the ceremony which will recognise the contribution of sport towards increasing participation, social cohesion and promoting excellence.

Helen Grant MP, who promotes grassroots development as well as diversity at elite sport and boardroom level, said: “I am delighted to be attending the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards.

“It is important that we celebrate and inspire Britain's younger generation who may not yet have seen the benefits of sport to be the best they can be at their chosen sport. I congratulate the organisers for arranging what promises to be a fantastic evening.”

Sporting Equals is the official charity partner for the BEDSA at the Ricoh Arena which will give sports clubs the chance to mix with key influencers from the black and minority ethnic business and third sector organisations.

Rajan Singh, of Digi Media Global who are managing the event, said there has been vast support to bring the new awards ceremony to a venue closer to grassroots sport and promote a community where elite sports athletes can mix with local partners.

Rajan, who is a consultant with the Ricoh Arena to bring more high-profile events from UK Asian markets to the venue, said: “The evening will be a great opportunity for sportsmen and women from throughout ethnic minority communities to promote their achievements to a high-profile audience made up of business and sporting leaders.

“The ceremony will also recognise the contribution of grassroots achievement in business, coaching, leadership and diversity which are important for future participation.

“Partnership working is key to attracting the next generation of ethnic minorities to take up sport and to do that we need everyone involved whether it is through voluntary groups or third sector organisations to work together.

“The feedback which has been received in the planning stages has been extremely encouraging and to have attracted Sports Minister Helen Grant to the BEDSA emphasises just how highly regarded this event already is.”

Liz Cooper, marketing director of the Ricoh Arena, said business and sport were among two key audiences to attract visitors to the venue.

“We have staged a vast number of sporting events from the Olympics, Davis Cup tennis and Champion of Champions snooker at the Ricoh Arena and we are the home of Wasps and Coventry City,” she said.

“The E.ON Lounge is an ideal location for the first BEDSA to celebrate the many and varied successes of ethnic minorities communities in Britain.

“Among the reasons the Ricoh Arena was chosen to host the event was because of our central location which makes the evening extremely accessible for guests to attend from across the UK.”