POSTED: Sunday September 27th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ICC Diversity Day celebrates the role of volunteers around the world

Cricket South Africa announces the first six ICC centenary medal winners

The invaluable work of volunteers in the game of cricket around the world is celebrated today as the theme of this year’s ICC Diversity Day.

 

ICC Diversity Day is designed to celebrate the game’s rich diversity, something which facilitates the coming together of people from many countries, cultures and social backgrounds and can foster greater harmony and understanding within communities.

 

The inaugural ICC Diversity Day took place in South Africa in September 2007. This was followed in 2008 by Diversity Day activities in India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates and is now a regular feature on the international cricket calendar.

 

This year’s ICC Diversity Day is celebrated during the ICC Champions Trophy to highlight the great work of volunteers around the globe who devote so much time and passion to cricket. These people are crucial in preserving cricket’s special values as well as sustaining and developing the game at the grassroots and nurturing the stars of the future. 

 

The ICC itself is reliant on hundreds of volunteers to help run major international events and so too are ICC Members. To recognise the achievements of volunteers, ICC centenary medals are being presented to worthy recipients by Members throughout the year as part of the ICC’s centenary celebrations. 

 

Yesterday, some of the England squad took part in a diversity day activity as Matt Prior, Tim Bresnan and Joe Denly, together with fielding coach Richard Halsall, gave up their own time to run a coaching session for a diverse group of young cricketers from Gauteng Province.

 

Cricket South Africa today launched its involvement in this initiative by announcing its first six medal winners to receive these prestigious medals. They were Ray Mali, Geoff Dakin, SK Reddy, Joe Pamensky, Mthetheleli “Advocate” Ngumbela and Dennis Carlstein.

 

Mr Mali has held the highest position at the ICC and has worked tirelessly for many years in the development of the game.

 

Mr Daikin, Mr Reddy and Mr Pamensky are life members of Cricket South Africa, who over the years have impacted the game in significant ways in their communities, which has helped the game develop into one of the most popular sports in South Africa.

 

Mr Ngumbela and Mr Carlstein are leading the development of rural cricket in South Africa and have demonstrated their ability to unite their communities and others through cricket.

 

Two of the worthy recipients, Mr Mali and Mr Dakin were presented with their medals in the President’s Suite at Centurion during today’s South Africa v England match.

 

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Cricket is dependent on and has benefitted enormously from the thousands of volunteers around the world. These individuals give generously of their time and skills without expecting any financial reward. The ICC centenary medal recognises some of those special people who have gone the extra distance to help develop the game and preserve this great sport’s unique values. Although not every volunteer will receive a medal, we should use this day to highlight our appreciation for their unselfish contributions.”

 

ICC Director and Cricket South Africa President Dr Mtutuzeli Nyoka said: “It is fantastic that the ICC is celebrating Diversity Day in this way. Cricket South Africa is delighted to play its role in helping to bring people closer together and recognise the achievements of cricket volunteers. The service of the medal winners here today has been outstanding and alongside the thousands of volunteers throughout the country – South Africa says ‘thank you’.”

 

Mr Mali said: “I am honoured to accept this award. Throughout my time in cricket I have met many people who have devoted themselves to this sport, some of whom will be awarded with medals later in the year. Volunteers give so much to the game and it is great that we can honour these unsung heroes in this way.”

 

Cricket South Africa will be announcing up to 50 ICC centenary medal winners throughout the current season. 

 

Note to editors:

 

More details about the ICC Centenary Medal can be found at www.catchthespirit.com.

 

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Keywords · ICC · ICC Diversity Day · cricket

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Name: James Fitzgerald
Organization: ICC
Email:
Phone: +971 4 368 8347
URL: http://icc-cricket.yahoo.com

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