7th June 2019

CHERRY ALEXANDER AWARDED OBE IN QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS

British Athletics warmly congratulates our Major Events Director Cherry Alexander who has been awarded an OBE in the Queens Birthday Honours announced tonight.

The recognition comes just weeks after Alexander was confirmed as the first ever female Vice President of European Athletics taking her her place alongside re-elected President Svein Arne Hansen in one of the most senior roles in athletics administration.

She also became the first representative from the UK federation on the council for eight years.

However, her biggest success has undoubtedly been in delivering numerous major events on British soil and in playing an integral part in the best-ever staging of the IAAF World Championships and World Para Athletics Championships in London in 2017.

Involved in athletics for the best part of 40 years, Alexander has been instrumental in the success of UK Athletics over the last two decades, working across a multitude of domestic and international competitions. She played a significant part in the athletics competition delivery during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She received an MBE at the end of that year for services to sport and is a previous winner of the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the year ‘Unsung Hero’ Award.

Over the years, her tireless work has been spread across the full athletics spectrum, from grassroots to elite performance.

In November 2017 Cherry was awarded the IAAF Women of the Year title and continued to deliver excellence for the world governing body helping ensure the successful staging of the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in March 2018 and the European Athletics Championships in Glasgow 2019.

She said:

“This is a humbling and incredible moment for me and my family and one I am truly grateful for.

“When I do collect the OBE, I will be thinking of my work mates over the years and my family who have supported me and have always accepted it was never ever just going to be a day job!

“Many congratulations to all those in all walks of life who have been recognised in these Honours, but especially for those in sport where my heart truly lies!”

Other athletics recipients named in the Honours include: OBE to David Campbell for voluntary services, OBE to former sprint hurdler Nigel Walker for services to elite sport, MBE to Arnold Black – for his work as a statistician with Scottish Athletics; and Medallists of the Order go to John Glover – Athletics Northern Ireland, John Hillier – Blackheath & Bromley, John Pownceby – Schools Athletics Cumbria, and Jill Wright for Voluntary Services.

Congratulations to all those working in athletics who are recognised in these honours.