LONDON, England – The Commonwealth Secretariat has recognised three outstanding people for their work in promoting Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) across the world.
A special award ceremony was held at the 10th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (10CSMM) in honour of the trio, who have all shown exemplary dedication to using sport to improve people’s lives.
Secretary-General Patricia Scotland QC gave awards to Dame Louise Martin DBE, president of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF); ambassador Dr Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for sports, culture and heritage, and previous chair of CSMM, and ambassador Deryck Lance Murray, chairman of the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS).
The Commonwealth Secretary-General said: “It was an honour to be able to recognise and award these individuals.
“They truly are game-changers, who have used their experience, wisdom and drive to push the sport sector forward, bringing about innovations that are improving lives across the Commonwealth.”
Dame Louise has achieved much in the sector – first as an athlete (swimming for Team Scotland at the Perth 1962 Commonwealth Games) – and later, becoming the first woman to be elected president of the Commonwealth Sport Movement and the CGF executive board.
In 2018, she was awarded a Damehood in the New Year’s honours list for services to Commonwealth sport. This came after she was awarded the CBE in 2003 for services to the Commonwealth Games.
In 2019, ambassador Dr Amina Mohamed was invited to serve the Commonwealth as chair of the Commonwealth sports ministers meeting in Japan. However, in 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic shocked the world and normal activities including all sporting activities ceased during months of lockdown.
Despite the pandemic, her commitment to the sports sector in the Commonwealth saw her chair the first Commonwealth sports ministers forum in 2020. The meeting focused on the impact of the pandemic on the sports sector.
Kenya’s focus on investment has set an example of how to mobilise resources towards sporting innovation for other Commonwealth leaders.
In November 2021, under her leadership, Kenya hosted the first senior official meeting on accelerating implementation in SDP in the Commonwealth.
Respected former West Indies cricketer, HE Deryck Murray has served as chair of CABOS since 2018.
He has provided tireless and dedicated service to the Commonwealth in providing leadership and guidance to member states during some of the most difficult times for SDP.
His commitment to human rights in and through sports assisted the Commonwealth to agree on a Commonwealth consensus statement on promoting human rights in and through sports, which is helping to guide countries on best practice.
