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Speaker lineup unveiled for Sport and Technology Conference in the UK
MUMBAI: Key representatives from major broadcasters, sports properties and technology companies in the UK will present their views at the inaugural edition of Sport and Technology: The Conference.
The event takes place on 4 March at BT Centre in London.
BT Rich Media is sponsoring the event. Its CEO Andy Brown said, ” Technology is at the heart of BTs services and we recognise the importance of sport in providing leading content for digital services. This conference will be the perfect platform for sports rights owners and technology companies to take part in networking as well as debating the issues that are having an impact on the industry.”
The speakers include BBC Sport head of new media, sports news and development Andrew Thompson, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union sport head John Barton, World Rally Championships MD Simon Long and SportBusiness International editorial director Kevin Roberts.
Meanwhile another sports related event in the UK is The Sport Industry Awards. It has announced a new partnership with The Financial Times that will see the newspaper become the official media partner to the annual event and sponsor of a new award, The Financial Times Sport Business Person of the Year.
The Financial Times sport editor Nigel Wray comments, “We’ll be looking for an individual who has demonstrated exceptional vision and leadership and as a result, has grown an outstanding business in the sports market place. It will be a significant accolade for the winner; their success will be celebrated in front of the entire industry and will also be recognised by the leading business newspaper in the UK.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
