Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson Receives TAFISA Jürgen Palm Award

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson was chosen by the TAFISA Board of Directors to receive the TAFISA Jürgen Palm Award for her outstanding contribution to sport and social inclusion, as highlighted through her many active roles across the U.K. Upon receiving the Award, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson commented:  

"It’s my absolute pleasure to accept the TAFISA Jürgen Palm Award. I want to thank the Board of Directors at TAFISA for bestowing me with this honour. And to congratulate the whole team at TAFISA for the excellent work you do around the globe to make sport and physical activity accessible for all.
 
Throughout my athletics career and beyond, it has been my absolute passion to make sure that everyone, no matter their age, gender, ability or background, gets the opportunity to participate in sport and physical activity.
 
Through my role as Chair of ukactive, I have been able to witness first-hand the impact that physical activity has on overcoming some of society’s biggest challenges: supporting people rehabilitate from injury and illness, managing mental health challenges, overcoming loneliness and isolation and tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.
 
I’m delighted that this award recognises all the hard work being put in not just by myself, but by all the people throughout the world trying to inspire people to reap the many benefits of an active lifestyle."

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson is a crossbench peer and legendary Paralympian wheelchair racer - one of the most successful British athletes of all time.
  
 Over an international career spanning 19 years she won 11 Paralympic Gold medals, held over 30 world records and won the London Marathon six times.
  
 In 2005, Tanni became ‘Dame’ Tanni Grey-Thompson for her services to sport and then on 23 March 2010, she was created a Life Peer on the recommendation of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. Her title was conferred as Baroness Grey-Thompson, of Eaglescliffe in the County of Durham.
  
 Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson was appointed ukactive chair in 2015, turning her seasoned campaigning voice to the crucial issue of turning the tide of physical inactivity. She has been a leading public face for the organisation, outlining several key ukactive policy recommendations in the past five years.
  
 Tanni has appeared regularly on TV as chair of ukactive, including on BBC Breakfast and Daily Politics, highlighting ukactive policy recommendations as well as promoting the myriad benefits of physical activity as a whole. 
  
 Tanni is also a regular feature in the print media, providing expert comment on all things physical activity related and writing several op-eds in the Huffington Post.

Named after the late founding President of TAFISA, the TAFISA Jürgen Palm Award is granted to deserving individuals who have made a significant and long-term contribution to the field of international Sport for All and physical activity. More information on our Awards page.