Eddie Izzard says a Big Thank You to Volunteers at BBC Sports Personality of the Year
BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be saying a big thank you to the UK’s volunteers, with 500 invited to attend the star-studded event in Glasgow this December 14 at the SSE Hydro. Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard will lead the celebrations, offering an extra special acknowledgement to the incredible people who give their time to make sport happen in the UK.
It will also be a magical moment for some of the remarkable volunteers watching at home as Eddie will be live on the red carpet with a phone box where he will be surprising them with a phone call from a host of British sports stars. Eddie, who is patron of Join In, a sports volunteer charity, along with the sports stars, will be saying thank you to the volunteers for the time and commitment they put into sport.
Join In, with BBC Get Inspired, are supporting the Big Thank You and viewers will be able to watch Eddie on the BBC Red Button and BBC News channel before the main event on Sunday 14 December, broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD at 8pm. Eddie will also be presenting the BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award on the night.
Information on the big thank you can be found at bbc.co.uk/getinspired
Eddie Izzard said: “There are so many unsung heroes across the UK who are motivating others to get involved in sport. Whether it’s an enthusiastic parent driving a team to training or a dedicated coach who gives their time to help out – it’s these super-volunteers that make sport happen. Every athlete will tell you how grateful they are to the volunteers throughout their careers. With each volunteer creating capacity for 8.5 additional participants in sport, it’s vital that we keep the volunteering spirit alive and help to develop the Sports Personality’s of the future.”
Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport said; “It is great the BBC has the chance to recognise the powerful service that volunteers provide for everyone taking part in sport across the UK. To be able to give something back to the volunteers after all their hard work is really important and we hope they will enjoy the fantastic show that is being organised for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.”
Viewers will be able to watch Eddie on the BBC Red Button before the main event on Sunday 14 December. Eddie will also be presenting the BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero Award on the night.
Rebecca Birkbeck, CEO of Join In said, “Volunteers truly are the unsung heroes of sport, it wouldn’t happen without them, and it’s fantastic to see them recognised alongside the other superstars of the sporting world.”
In addition to activity on the night, Join In’s Director of Sport David Moorcroft was also invited to sit on the final BBC Get Inspired Unsung Hero judging panel. The panel, which includes representatives from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, BBC Get Inspired, 2013 Unsung Hero Award winners (Joe and Maggie Forber) and athlete Jo Pavey, will together select the final winner of the award presented by Eddie Izzard on the night.
David Moorcroft said; “It’s been great being part of the panel, there have been some remarkable nominees this year. I work with incredible volunteers every day who help make sport happen, it’s great that the BBC continue to recognise the true heroes of sport.”
Join In Local Leader, Kirsten Shelton also sat on the judging panel for the BBC West Mids regional selection earlier this month.
The award ceremony is taking place on Sunday 14 December at the SSE Hydro and 500 volunteers from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles will be attending. The Unsung Hero award was established in 2003 rewarding outstanding volunteer contribution to sport. For further information on Join In visit joinuk.org.
