Stevenson, who won the world taekwondo title in 2011, also suffered the loss of parents Diana and Roy, who died within three months of each other after suffering respectively from cancer and a brain tumour.

"It is such a huge honour to receive an MBE," the 28-year-old from Doncaster said.

"I know my parents would have been so proud of this award.

"It's fantastic to be recognised for the hard work I have put into taekwondo for the past 21 years.

"It's also a boost for the sport in this country and I am proud to be an ambassador for Taekwondo.

"I hope this will continue to help raise the profile of this great sport."

Allen, who successfully chaired the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, has been recognised for his work and support as a non-executive director of London 2012.

Armitt's award marks his distinguished contribution as chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) that had put 90 per cent of the required infrastructure in place with almost a year to go until the Opening Ceremony.

Other key figures from the ODA were also recognised.

Howard Shiplee, the ODA director of construction, was awarded a CBE, and former ODA head of arts and cultural ctrategy, Sarah Weir, given an OBE.


"I have been privileged during my career to be supported by many people with whom I share this honour to our industry," Armitt (pictured) told insidethegames.

"I am especially proud of what the industry has achieved in building the Olympic Park.

"That we have been able to keep this project on time and within budget is down to the hard work of the ODA team, our delivery partner and other organisations involved in the delivery of the Games.

"None of this would have been possible without the knowledge and expertise of the engineering and construction team - from workforce to management.

"I am also delighted to see that other members of the ODA team have been recognised in the New Year's Honours List."

There are CBEs for Sarah Springman for services to triathlon and for Giles Clarke, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Springman represented Great Britain at the elite level from 1983 to 1993, competing in the 1990 Commonwealth Games triathlon in Auckland.

She amassed 20 elite ETU European Championship medals in triathlon over all distances and duathlon, including three individual and five team golds, as well as finishing fifth at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships in 1985 and 1987.

She was the ITU Winter World Triathlon Champion in her age group in 2006 and a bronze medallist in the Vancouver Sprint in 2008.


Springman (pictured) was elected as the International Triathlon Union's (ITU) sole vice-president in 1992, a position she held until 1996, during the period of successful lobbying for Olympic inclusion of triathlon in the sport programme of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

A year later she received an OBE.

She was appointed chair of the newly formed British Triathlon Federation Board and President of British Triathlon Federation in 2007.

She was reappointed in 2009 for the following four years, following election as one of four ITU vice-president in 2008.

There is also a CBE for Nigel Mansell for services to children and young people. Following his motor racing career, he has been the President of UK Youth for nearly ten years and has been an inspiring figure for many young people across the UK.

Darren Clarke, runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after winning his first Major – the Open – at the age of 43, gets an OBE, with fellow golfer Rory McIlroy, winner of the US Open, receiving an MBE.

Christopher Paterson, the rugby player with the all-time record number of appearances for Scotland; and Martyn Williams, Wales' most capped rugby forward, also receive MBEs.

Jamie Peacock, the Leeds Rhinos and England rugby league captain, gets an MBE and the sports broadcaster Stuart Hall gets an OBE.

MBEs also goes to Frank O'Sullivan, founder and coach to the Birmingham City Amatuer boxing club, Valerie Mellor, for services to swimming in the North West, and Thomas Welsh for services to athletics in Northern Ireland.

Ian Reid, chief executive of Scottish Sports Futures, gets an OBE for services to young people in Scotland.

A knighthood also goes to Doug Ellis after he became heavily involved in charity work through his chairmanship of Aston Villa Football Club and has made substantial personal donations to the NSPCC and other institutions.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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