Residents of Greater Manchester are being encouraged to nominate local champions for the 2024 Sporting Equals Awards.

The annual event, organized by the UK-wide charity Sporting Equals, honours figures driving diversity and inclusivity in sport.

Last year, the Bolton-based Krimmz Girls Youth Project bagged the 'Community Project of the Year Award'.

The awards evening is set to occur at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Saturday, October 5.

It will feature TV personality and comedian Judi Love as the host.

Nominations for this year's awards, which focus on both elite and grassroots sports, are ongoing and will conclude on September 8.

Those wishing to put someone forward can do so via the Sporting Equals website: sportingequalsawards.org.uk

A range of awards, including 'England Athletics Coach of the Year', 'Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year' and 'The FA Community Champion of the Year', will be bestowed this year.

A new award, the 'Mind Mental Health Award', seeks to address inequalities in accessing sport, its consequent impact on mental health, and promote therapy through physical activity.

Arun Kang OBE, chief executive of Sporting Equals, said: "We are really excited to deliver the eighth edition of the awards in partnership with Sport England, who empathise with the importance of these awards, to acknowledge the contribution made by ethnically diverse communities in sport and to inspire the next generation.

"The Sporting Equals Awards are a chance to celebrate the effect that ethnically diverse people and communities have on the sport and physical activity sector.

"The awards also provide the opportunity to reflect on the changes that still need to be made."

Paralympic athlete and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Emmanuel Oyinbo-Coker, said: "The Sporting Equals Awards is all about recognising the hard work athletes, coaches and volunteers have put in over the course of the last year.

"It is a night to celebrate with friends and families while also being able to network with others.

"When there are hundreds of inspiring individuals in a building, it creates a standard for everyone to want to achieve."

Several major institutions, including England Athletics, The FA, Mind, Swim England, The LTA Tennis Foundation and Youth Sport Trust, will support the awards.

Viveen Taylor, director of equality, diversity and inclusion at Sport England, said: "Sport belongs to everyone but is not yet an equal or welcome space for all.

"We’re proud to be a partner of the Sporting Equals Awards; it’s a chance to celebrate and showcase progress from across the country with race equality, and spotlight the work that still needs to be done."