Australian cricketer Pat Cummins secures BBC Green Sport Award for Athlete of the Year

October 3, 2023

Australian cricketer, Pat Cummins, has been named Athlete of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards.

Now in their second year, the awards - which are in partnership with the Sport Positive Summit - celebrate individuals and organisations from around the world who are using their sporting profile to make change towards a more sustainable future.

Cummins, who captained Australia’s side at the Ashes this summer, won the award for his leadership on climate issues in cricket and more broadly across Australia. His work includes public advocacy and in the last 12 months alone, Cummins, who founded the Cricket for Climate foundation, has supported a number of initiatives which show his dedication towards driving change. These include supporting the installation of solar systems at over four local cricket clubs, hosting the inaugural Cricket for Climate Impact Summit and backing the launch of the South Australian Cricket Association Sustainability Roadmap.

About the win, Cummins shared "I feel like there is hope, because there is a lot of solutions to move away from fossil fuels or moving towards more renewable sources. To be able show that we've made a small difference, we've made some good actions, it's not just about words, that makes me really proud.”

Cross-country runner Innes FitzGerald scooped up the award for Young Athlete of the Year. The runner from Devon, UK, has emerged as a bold activist over the past 12 months. She won the award after declining to take part in the World Cross Country Championships in Australia due to concerns about the impact of flying on the environment.

FitzGerald added “I feel like it's a real privilege (receiving this award). I never set out to achieve awards from this, I just wanted to raise awareness about climate related issues within the athletics and sporting world. Trying to get up and coming athletes to think about what they're doing and their impacts on the climate as well.”

This year’s Evergreen Athlete award went to former Major League Baseball player, Chris Dickerson. Dickerson has been recognised for his work building awareness of the climate crisis and plastic pollution. This includes founding the Players for the Planet foundation in 2008 which has created a number of initiatives to positively help the environment, such as beach clean-ups and recycling at stadiums.

Dickerson also shared "(I’m) honoured for this award. It's great having these meaningful chats to move progress forward and I truly appreciate it.”

Forest Green Rovers Football Club (FGR FC) have been awarded Elite Organisation of the Year. The EFL League 2 team, which became the world’s first vegan football club in 2015 have continued to lead the way in sustainability within sport. This includes their stadium being powered by 100% green energy - with solar panels on the roof of the stands – no single use plastics on site, rainwater being collected to prevent water waste, and the team travelling on an electric coach.

Dale Vince, FGR FC added "It's a good feeling (to achieve the award) and it's a good example of something that helps to propel us. There's recognition around the award and it helps to carry our message around the world. It's all part of our progress.”

Winning this year’s Grassroots Organisation of the Year is Rhino Cup Champions League (RCCL). Over the last year the league, which is across Africa, has continued its work on wildlife conservation. The RCCL uses the popularity of football to forge a connection between the youth in rural communities and the protection of rhinos, as well as offering social and economic benefits for the communities.

Matt Bracken, RCCL said "he Rhino Cup League came from how can we help stop young men from going into the wildlife reserve and risking their lives and the lives of animals to kill that animal for profit. What we're doing with the Rhino Cup Champions League is we're bringing something they love [but] from the wildlife - the Rhino Cup Champions League is a football league brought to you by your local rhinoceros - and that is bringing so much. It's bringing compassion, happiness, hope and love.”

The Green Sport Award program will be available to watch from Monday 2nd October on BBC.com/sport and will air on the BBC News channel on Saturday 7th October at 09:30 and 21:30, and Sunday 8th October at 02:30, 07:30 and 15:30 (all times GMT).

Image. Credit: Australian Cricketers Association

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