Guests at the British Asian Sports Awards 2011 (BASA) celebrated the annual event’s 10th anniversary in style recently.
As the event’s charity partner, The British Asian Trust was part of the festivities to mark the 10-year milestone since BASA was founded by Sony in 2001.
The glittering event, hosted by Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra and Holby City celebrity Laila Rouass, both Trust Ambassadors, took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on 5 March. Dignitaries from the sporting and show business world including Trust Ambassadors Mumzy Stranger, Preeya Kalidas and Isa Guha were on hand.
The British Asian Trust was ‘thrilled and honoured’ to be chosen by Sony as the charity partner for the 10th annual British Asian Sports Awards 2011, said Trust Chairman Manoj Badale.
In keeping with the ethos of the awards, Sony tasked the Trust to find an effective grassroots-level organisation that transforms young lives through sport as a beneficiary for proceeds raised at the charity auction held on the evening. Following rigorous due diligence procedures, The British Asian Trust was able to recommend Street League, an organisation leveraging the power of sport to help young British Asians from disadvantaged communities get into work, education or training.
“Supporting The British Asian Trust’s recommended charity, Street League, in transforming young lives through sport, is a great way of celebrating the 10 year milestone of our awards,” said Neeraj Arora, Executive Vice President and Head of International Business for Sony Entertainment Network. “We launched BASA in 2001 to raise the profile of talented amateur and semi-professional South Asians involved in sport. The vision of the awards has always been to help build the futures of the South Asian community, which is something that The British Asian Trust also continues to do since it was established,” he said.
Street League coach Rizwan Aboo said: “We are delighted that Sony and The British Asian Trust have provided us with this unique opportunity to showcase our work and its impact. The funds raised during the evening will enable us to run weekly street football engagement sessions in Tower Hamlets and an 8-week academy in Stratford, on the doorstep of the Olympic venue.”
Manoj Badale, Chairman of The British Asian Trust said: “Support from Sony and BASA helps us to meet the greatest needs in the UK and South Asia. We look forward to working with Sony again next year.”
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