BEST NGB OR ORGANISING BODY OF THE YEAR
Abu Dhabi Sport Council
The Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) continues to set new benchmarks in global sports governance through its integrated approach to elite performance, community engagement, and inclusive development. Operating under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ADSC has solidified Abu Dhabi’s position as a world-class sporting destination by hosting flagship international events such as the UAE Tour, the World Triathlon Championship Series, and the Judo Grand Slam.
Alongside global events, ADSC delivers extensive community initiatives like the Abu Dhabi Sports Championship for Schools and Universities—engaging tens of thousands of youth across the emirate—and the Move United programme, which provides tailored sports access for People of Determination.
In 2024–25, ADSC also pioneered financial governance reforms, achieving cost savings across more than 50 sports entities through a unified digital platform. The Council’s efforts have resulted in increased physical activity levels among residents, broader access to grassroots sports, and global recognition through multiple regional awards.
Driven by a mission to create a healthier, more active society and support long-term athletic excellence, ADSC exemplifies modern sports leadership—balancing innovation, inclusivity, and operational excellence in every aspect of its strategy.
British Cycling
Following the completion of our ‘programme of change’ to modernise the organisation, we launched a bold, four-year strategy to tackle inequalities and deliver an unprecedented contribution to society, health, and the economy.
The British Cycling Foundation– our ‘charitable arm’, will be a catalyst for social change. An extraordinary commitment from both athletes and staff saw us deliver a dedicated day of mass social impact, the biggest ever run by an NGB.
Our partnership with Lloyds- one of the largest UK commercial sports deals, continues to be transformational, aligning with our social impact commitment.
The UK’s largest free to attend sporting event- the Lloyds Tour of Britain, continues to be record-breaking. Coupled with our major events vision and an ambitious digital transformation project, we have unlocked a raft of commercial partnerships.
Our riders have shown prowess on the world stage following a successful Paris 2024, with medal winning performances in 2025.
Our participation programmes continue to grow, with Limitless– our leading disability programme, internationally recognised with a UCI award for bringing social and health benefits to disabled people.
Our ambitious environmental sustainability strategy has achieved notable achievements in year one, including providing bespoke sustainability guidance and funding to the cycling community.
British Universities and Colleges Sport
BUCS is a small organisation, with around 50 staff and an annual turnover of £6m, that consistently punches above its weight by delivering exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.
BUCS facilitates sport for Olympic champions and future professionals, right through to sporty students looking to get active during their studies, while its competition helps students
England Golf
These initiatives reflect our commitment to making golf a sport for everyone — safer, more inclusive, and easier to access than ever before.
We are prioritising inclusivity through our Respect in Golf movement, providing meaningful support at golf club level, with appropriate education and support, whilst ensuring key policies are in place. SafeGolf is maintaining a safe environment for everyone involved in our sport.
We are improving accessibility to the game. The number of female golf club members in England has grown by 8.9% since 2022, and the number of women using iPlay has grown by 59% since 1st January 2025.
England Golf’s digital applications are making the sport more open to all golfers, allowing them to access their handicap with the MyEG app.
With 469,000 app downloads – a 10% increase YoY – the app is revolutionising the golfing experience.
Working with organisations like the Golf Foundation, focused on supporting children and young people, we are getting more young people trying the sport for the first time, which is fantastic!
While there’s more work to do, we are proud to be driving positive change and shaping a brighter future for golf. Slowly but surely, we are breaking down barriers.
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation entered 2024 enjoying record levels of interest following the incredible success of a World Championship which created global headlines.
Teenager Luke Littler’s run to the 2023/24 World Championship final drew record TV ratings for Sky Sports and inspired a new generation of interest in the sport.
That led to a year of unprecedented success for the PDC in the 12 months from March 2024 across all levels of the professional circuit.
Over 150 tournaments were played across over 180 event days during the year on the PDC circuit, while in excess of 400,000 fans attended events globally.
The PDC In The Community scheme was launched, while a series of high-profile new partners aligned with a sport enjoying a period of unprecedented growth.
UK Athletics
2024/5 has been a landmark year for UK Athletics (UKA), uniting elite performance with strategic transformation. A refreshed high-performance strategy, targeted investment in athletes and infrastructure, and strong financial discipline have repositioned UKA as a modern, effective national governing body. The results have been tangible—in medals, media reach, and renewed national engagement.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Great Britain’s 59-strong athletics team achieved its best results in decades, winning 10 medals (4 gold, 3 silver, 3 bronze) and setting 8 British records. The Paralympic team added 18 medals and multiple world and national records. Standout moments, like Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m gold, captured the public’s imagination, leading to her being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Olympic coverage drew record audiences, and athletes became household names through mainstream media.
Beyond performance, UKA advanced its commercial and strategic ambitions through the Athletic Ventures joint venture, unlocking sponsorships and enhancing event delivery—the London Athletics Meet among them.
Looking forward, UKA (via Athletic Ventures) will host the 2026 European Championships and is bidding to bring the 2029 World Championships to London. With a sustainable, athlete-centred system in place, UKA is driving long-term impact across British athletics—on and off the track.
USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the number one athletics team in the world and the national governing body for track and field in the U.S. Driven by a mission to promote excellence, inclusivity, and engagement across all levels of the sport, USATF delivered a transformative year in 2024.
Facing heightened global competition and domestic challenges, USATF implemented its Journey to Gold strategic roadmap to bolster athlete readiness ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, expanded grassroots access to propel athletes at all levels to unprecedented success and unified Paralympic and Olympic programs for the first time in history.
Under CEO Max Siegel’s leadership, USATF maintained record revenue, retained major sponsors, and introduced innovative initiatives such as live Olympic Trials commentary by Snoop Dogg to attract broader audiences. Results in 2024 were historic: 34 medals at the Paris Olympics, record-breaking performances.
Globally recognized for its impact, USATF received the 2024 World Athletics Member Federation Award, and COO Renee Washington was honored as Woman of the Year. Strategic partnerships and DEI initiatives further solidified USATF’s role as a modern, values-driven organization. USATF not only elevated its athletes but also set a new standard for what a governing body can achieve
