Olympian Chambers joins the hunt for a BBC Sports Unsung Hero
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Olympic rower and local Unsung Hero Ambassador Richard Chambers, right, with Bobbie Platt MBE, who coached him at Coleraine Academical Institution, and who he says is his own unsung sporting hero.
OLYMPIC rower Richard Chambers has launched the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award 2008 in Northern Ireland to search for and honour individuals from the world of grassroots sport.
Richard, who was a member of the GB lightweight fours at the Beijing Olympics, joined his own unsung hero, 86-year-old Bobbie Platt, to launch the award at the Boat Club of his former school, Coleraine Inst.
Robinsons is supporting the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award and is offering bursaries of up to £2,500 to the winners of each regional award to help them with their work in sport.
Richard, a member of the GB lightweight four who were crowned World Champions last year, appreciates how important the contributions of unsung heroes from grassroots sport can be. He credits his own former coach Bobbie Platt MBE, with helping make him the athlete he is today.
“It takes an incredible amount of hard work and dedication to get to the top of your chosen sport, and I don't think I could've made it to that level without the help of Bobbie - my own Unsung Hero.
“And it's people like Bobbie who can make all the difference. Having someone who gives up so much of their time to support and coach you is invaluable. So it's great that these unsung heroes all over the UK are being recognised for the support and encouragement they give to so many sports people. And it's great that someone here in Northern Ireland will also be recognised locally for what they do."
So if you know someone in your area who goes that extra mile to change the lives of others through sport and deserves recognition, the BBC wants to hear from you. You can nominate people who, on a voluntary basis, prepare facilities, roll the pitch, coach the juniors, run local sports leagues or work behind the scenes so that sport can be played and enjoyed throughout the UK.
A shortlist of regional nominees in each BBC region and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will be drawn up by the local BBC panel of judges, and a winner picked by a judging panel.
These 15 regional winners will be joining the glittering BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award ceremony at Liverpool's Echo Arena, on Sunday, December 14, where an overall UK winner will be chosen.
Nominations for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award can be made at www.bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero until Friday, October 31.
The 2008 Awards, held for the first time at the Liverpool Echo arena, continues BBC Sports Personality of the Year's commitment to bringing the ceremony out to other parts of the UK. The show will be covered live on BBC ONE on Sunday, December 14.
