Sporting Equals awards return for 2024

England Athletics is looking to continue the success we have enjoyed through the Sporting Equals Awards as nominations for the 2024 awards are now open. The Sporting Equals Awards celebrate sporting excellence within ethnically diverse communities.

England Athletics has supported these awards from the start and this year will be sponsoring the 'Coach of the Year' category for which last year Loughborough-based coach, Leon Baptiste, was recognised.

Speaking about the Awards and the support England Athletics has shown, CEO Chris Jones said:

"As an inaugural supporting partner, we always work to recognise and celebrate the contribution made to athletics, running, and all sport from individuals of different backgrounds and communities across the country. Their dedication, talent, and selfless commitment serves as an inspiration to others who might be looking to get involved as volunteers, to provide enjoyment for many others as we look to broaden and diversify participation levels in sport."

Last year's success

England Athletics, athletes and coaches had a very successful night at last year's awards, with five representatives from the athletics and running family taking home category winning awards.

• Katarina Johnson Thompson – Sportswoman of the year
• Zharnel Hughes – Sportsman of the year
• Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker – Rising Star of the year
• Ayesha Jones – Young Sportsperson of the year
• Leon Baptiste – Coach of the year

Nominate

We hope we can repeat last year's success with the depth of diverse talent in our sport, so we encourage everyone to nominate anyone they feel is deserving across the award categories.

Diversity in leadership and governance

England Athletics also fully promote and champion diversity in the leadership and governance of sport at all levels.

Chris Jones added, "This is something that we have embraced and focused on over the last decade as we have looked to ensure that our own structures reflect an important balance and diversity of thought, experience, and background that is reflective of our richly diverse sport and society.

"The Sporting Equals leaderboard programme is so important in supporting this goal and we are delighted that leaderboard goes from strength to strength."