Muslim Sports Awards celebrate talent

Once again, England Athletics were pleased to sponsor the Muslim Sports Foundation’s Muslim Sports Awards, held on 5 December at Leeds United Football Club.

The Muslim Sports Awards were established to recognise and celebrate the incredible talent, dedication, and impact of the Muslim community across the UK in sport - from grassroots volunteers to elite professionals.

Representing England Athletics at the evening were Emma Davenport (Clubs and Development Director), Sarah Harrison (Welfare and Compliance Manager), and Head of Participation Programmes Tracey Francis. Six representatives from our RunTogether groups also attended, including;

• LiRF qualified group leader Sahar Ijaz and some of her members represented the Bradford-based Muslim women’s social running  group “Together we are runners” which has now expanded to include all women who walk, jog, or run in their local community
• The Emancipated Run Crew were represented by John Stephenson. The ERC are both a RunTogether group and affiliated England Athletics club. Originally based in London and established to provide much-needed safe spaces for black and brown runners, they have now expanded across England and have extended their sporting reach beyond running.

Tracey told us after the event:

"It was really fabulous to share the awards evening with some of our running group members who have made such an impact across England!"

Emma Davenport added:

"It was a privilege to attend the Muslim Sports Awards and celebrate the outstanding individuals and groups making a real difference in their communities. Their inspirational work and commitment to inclusion set a powerful example for others across sport."