British Cycling Celebrates 50 Years

News Posted: 16 July 2009

This year British Cycling celebrates 50 years as the National Governing Body for Cycling in Britain and will be running a number of activities to mark this historic occasion. The anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the sport and the people that make it happen. Adding to the sense of occasion is the recent Olympic success of British riders and the fact that London 2012 is just three years away.

British Cycling will soon be launching the 50th Anniversary Online and creating a place on its website devoted to its history and the history of the sport. The public will be encouraged to submit their memoirs and stories from the past five decades to help bring to life historic cycling moments.

British Cycling will also create a Hall of Fame and induct 50 individuals for their contribution to cycling over the past five decades. Embracing the entire cycling community and all cycling disciplines, British Cycling will choose the inductees from volunteers, event organisers, race officials, coaches, athletes and influential figures within cycling. The public will be invited to submit their nominations and names of the 50 inductees will be released over the autumn months.

Culminating all celebrations will be the 50th Anniversary Gala in February 2010, an event that will incorporate British Cycling's Annual Awards Dinner. The gala will be an evening of first class entertainment devoted to all cycling champions and bring together staff, riders, volunteers, partners, sponsors, cycling ambassadors and key figures in the sport.

Ian Drake, CEO at British Cycling, comments: "Our 50th Anniversary is an ideal opportunity to express our gratitude to all the people in our sport for their fantastic contribution over the past five decades. It is thanks to our members that we are transforming Britain into the number one cycling nation in the world and it is through our members that we will continue to work towards making cycling Britain's most popular sport."

Brian Cookson, President at British Cycling, adds: "Our sport only happens thanks to individuals willing to give up their own time to help others enjoy cycling, whatever their ability, motivation or goals, and for this reason we will be making a special effort to recognise volunteers in our sport.

"We would not be where we are today without the forward looking individuals at the British League of Racing Cyclists and the National Cyclists Union who laid solid foundations for our organisation, so we will also be remembering them this year."

More details regarding British Cycling's 50th Anniversary celebrations will be released over the coming months. For more information please visit www.britishcycling.org.uk

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