Beyond Sport Extends Awards Entry Deadline

Due to overwhelming demand, the deadline for entries to the Beyond Sport Awards 2009 has been extended to midnight on Monday, March 9, giving projects a further week to join the 200 initiatives from more than 70 countries that have entered the Awards so far.

Beyond Sport is a global initiative which seeks to celebrate and support the best projects that use sport to drive positive social change.

In its first year, the global Awards scheme has been inundated with entries with projects from every continent and covering every sector of sport-led social innovation having already submitted their initiatives to be judged.

With the organisers receiving many more requests to extend the deadline, the decision has been taken to allow a further 7 days for projects to enter their applications.

Groups and individuals from across the globe are advised to log on to www.beyondsport.org immediately to process their entry – the community-driven website also providing an online network where social entrepreneurs in sport can share their ideas and insights and communicate with each other.

It should also be noted that there are specific categories open to corporate companies, federations and governing bodies, and professional sports teams to enter their sport-led social innovation projects for recognition in the Beyond Sport Awards.

There are 11 Award categories in total covering the entire sporting spectrum of corporate and social responsibility, change and philanthropy. A shortlist of entries will go before the Beyond Sport Judging Panel of Ambassadors, chaired by Tony Blair, who will choose the winner of each category.

The winners in eight categories will receive funding and long-term support to help them to become fully sustainable. All winners will be announced at the inaugural Beyond Sport Summit to be held in London on 7-9 July 2009.

Beyond Sport is partnered with Barclays Spaces for Sports, earthdreams, TIME International and Virgin Atlantic.