The former Shadow Minister for Sport and the Olympics and subsequent Minister for Sport and the Olympics, roles he held for almost a decade from 2004-2013, is only the fourth ever recipient of the award following Dame Mary Peters, Dame Diana Ellis and Bill Slater.

The award was introduced to honour those people who had made "an exemplary contribution to sport and recreation in this country".

It was presented by the Sport and Recreation Alliance at a dinner to mark the end of their Leadership Conference in Leeds, attended by over 200 delegates.

The award recognises Sir Hugh's considerable list of achievements in sport within the UK, including his considerable contribution to London "a Games widely regarded as the best of the modern era".

Also mentioned in the ceremony were Sir Hugh's restoration of sport's share of National Lottery Funding, his setting up of Sport England's Inspired and Iconic facilities fund, and his lobbying towards the continuity of school sport funding following the end of the School Sports Partnership.

Sir Hugh Robertson was the Government minister with day to day responsibility for London 2012 ©Getty Images

"It is a huge honour to be given this award to mark my time as Sports and Olympics Minister," Sir Hugh said.

"However, the really important thing is that sport does not sit on its laurels, post 2012, but makes the most of the opportunities provided to grow even stronger in the years ahead, particularly in clubs and schools, and there is much work still to do."

Andy Reed, chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance added: "Sir Hugh's award is richly-deserved.

"His contribution as sports minister was truly outstanding and the Emeritus Award goes some way towards acknowledging that."

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