T
he ASA joined Sport England and a host of sporting bodies to celebrate diversity in sport at the inaugural British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSA) on Saturday 21 February at the Coventry Ricoh Arena.
Co-founded by Sporting Equals, the BEDSAs celebrated individual sporting achievements and recognised the ongoing grassroots work to increase participation.
The Batley Baths Swimming Project in Kirklees was one of the projects nominated for the Sport England Community Sports Project award. Aimed at encouraging more women from the Asian community to take part in swimming, the project has been growing since it began a year ago.
“It’s great to see people being recognised at the BEDSA’s as it shows what a diverse community we have” – Saima Bi, Batley Baths Swimming ProjectSaima Bi explained: “The project encourages women, specifically those from the Asian community, to take part in swimming and aqua fitness sessions in a closed, safe environment.
“We have over 60 women regularly attending our sessions, the majority of whom would not be coming if it was a mixed session. We’ve even got three generations of the same family attending which is great and shows how successful the project is in encouraging people to take part.
“It’s great to see people being recognised at the BEDSAs as it shows what a diverse community we have and I am very proud that our project was nominated.”
Rubina Ismail qualified as a lifeguard to help support the sustainability of the programme and is looking forward to starting her Level 1 teaching course. She said: “The project is a great opportunity for me to help within the BAME community, and to help break down some of the barriers that exist with sport. It’s wonderful that the project has become so popular and that people feel they can come and take part.”
Also representing the ASA at the BEDSAs were GBR Open Water athlete Alice Dearing, Water Polo coach Peggy Etiebet, and Perry Beeches Swimming Club athlete Jovan Owusu-Nepaul.
Dearing said: “It was a great honour to represent the ASA at the BEDSAs. The Awards are a great opportunity to remind people that anyone can be good at sport regardless of race or background.”
18-year-old Jovan Owusu-Nepaul commented: “I’m the only person in my family that swims, all the rest do other sports. The athletes here tonight are an inspiration and watching them win awards makes me want to be back in the water training!”
“The Awards are a great opportunity to remind people that anyone can be good at sport regardless of race or background.” – Open Water athlete Alice DearingEtiebet, who played for the GBR Women’s Water Polo team, said: “Water polo does need to improve its numbers of black, asian and ethnic minority participants and an event like the BEDSA awards, which provides exposure and inspiration for young athletes, will help immeasurably.
“At the Crystal Palace Water Polo Beacon Programme we are lucky that over 33 per cent of our mini and cadet polo are bme. This is actually more diverse than the community we work in but l believe we can do even better.
“Since I started coaching after my GB service a number of parents have told me that their daughters were in awe that a black athlete played in the GB team. If I can inspire a handful of young people in Crystal Palace then the BEDSAs will be incredible at inspiring others.”
The ASA has been working closely with Sporting Equals to gain quality insight into BAME swimming and aquatics, and is developing plans to create a fully inclusive pool programme throughout the nation.
The ASA is committed to creating the right environment and a clear pathway to give every single person the opportunity to take part in swimming and make it a habit for life.
