NEW Sports Parliamentarian of the Year award shortlist unveiled

Take a look at the Sports Parliamentarian of the Year Award 2011 shortlist.

Ten parliamentarians from across the United Kingdom make up the shortlist for the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Sports Parliamentarian of the Year 2011 – with the awards taking place at the House of Commons on Wednesday 14 December.

This is the first year for Sports Parliamentarian of the Year, which has been established to recognise the efforts of members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords who have worked tirelessly with local people, clubs, organisations and governing bodies to promote and protect the interests of sport and recreation.

Andy Reed, chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: “Sport and recreation are important tools for politicians. They can improve health, reduce crime and increase educational attainment, all of which are key public policy goals for any government.

“It’s great that this award presents an opportunity to pay tribute to those parliamentarians who recognise the positive impact that sport and recreation have on people’s lives. We hope that the awards will encourage more of them to make sport and recreation an even greater priority in years to come.”

Take a look at who's been shortlisted.