BEDSA Nominations are now open!

It has been announced that the 2017 Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs) will be hosted by Sir Lenny Henry on March 18th, at the London Hilton on Park Lane, Mayfair.

The awards, which are now in their third year, are organised by Sporting Equals, the national partner of Sport England and advisors to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Sponsored by Lycamobile, the world's largest mobile virtual network operator, the Awards are leading the way in recognising and celebrating sporting excellence within Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

The nominations for the 2017 awards are now open. To download a nomination form please visit www.bedsa.co.uk or alternatively, call us on 0121 777 1375 to request a form to be sent to you via email. Nominations close on 2nd January 2017 at 5pm.

The Lycamobile BEDSAs are supported by Sport England, UK Sport, The Tennis Foundation, Youth Sport Trust, England Athletics and The Armed Forces.

The award categories include:

• Lycamobile Sportsman of the Year Award
• Sportswoman of the Year Award
• Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year Award
• Youth Sport Trust Sports Person of the Year Award
• UK Sport Inspirational Performance of the Year Award
• The Coach of the year Award
• The Unsung Hero Award in association with the Armed Forces
• Tennis Foundation Special Achievement Award
• The Lifetime Achievement Award
• Spirit of 2012 Connecting Communities Award

Maryam Amatullah (2015 winner pictured), a cycling enthusiast and pioneer from Leicester and also a local This Girl Can Champion, won the The County Sports Partnership Network's Unsung Hero Award. She promotes bike rides for women from a variety of backgrounds who would not otherwise have considered it as a hobby or mode of transport.

Amatullah said: "I feel like a star. A proper star. I am actually thrilled, delighted, really excited to have won."

(Image: British Cycling)