UK Athletics has been shortlisted in two categories at the 2025 Sports Business Awards, recognising a landmark year for the organisation both on and off the track. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday 21st November at the London Hilton on Park Lane and celebrates outstanding achievement across the UK sports industry.

UKA is a finalist for Best Sports Governing Body of the Year, following a year that delivered historic results at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a return to financial stability, and a series of bold strategic developments. The nomination reflects a reinvigorated high-performance system and a disciplined, athlete-centred approach that helped produce one of the best Olympic performances in British athletics history.

Highlights from the past 12 months include:

• 10 Olympic medals for GB & NI (4 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze), including 8 British records
• 18 Paralympic medals (6 gold, 8 silver, 4 bronze), with strong performances across the para-athletics pathway
• Record-breaking TV audiences and national media coverage during the Paris Games
• A successful commercial turnaround, including the formation of Athletic Ventures LLP with London Marathon Events and The Great Run Company
• Strong momentum behind UKA’s bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in London

The second nomination, for the Sports Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Award, recognises UKA’s work to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion across all levels of the sport. In partnership with the Home Country Athletics Federations, UKA has developed and delivered a bold Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), with results evident both on the podium and within the organisation itself.

Key achievements in EDI include:

• 60% of individual Olympic medallists were women and 40% from ethnically diverse communities
• Gender-balanced relay teams, with over 80% of women and 77% of men from ethnically diverse backgrounds
• At the Paralympics, 83% of gold and 71% of silver medals were won by women
• Workforce ethnic diversity increased from 12% in 2021 to 26% in 2025
• Board representation in 2025 includes 30% women, 30% ethnically diverse, and 20% disabled members
• Inclusive policy reform, including a revised Gender Inclusion and Trans Awareness policy shaped through wide consultation

UKA Chief Executive Jack Buckner said: “It’s an honour to be recognised across two such important categories. These nominations reflect the hard work of our athletes, staff, and partners during a transformative period for the sport. From medal-winning moments in Paris to building a more inclusive future across the UK, we’re proud of the progress made—and excited about what’s ahead.”

The winners of the 2025 Sports Business Awards will be announced at the ceremony on 21st November. For more information, visit sportsbusinessawards.co.uk.