Ambassador appointment aims to raise profile of Asian & LGBTQ+ Sporting Heritage

Sporting Heritage CIC, the national organisation leading the charge on promoting and protecting British sporting heritage collections and stories, has announced global Vietnamese LGBTQ+ sports and human rights advocate Amazin LeThi as a Sporting Heritage Ambassador to raise the profile of East Asian and LGBTQ+ sporting heritage.

Amazin is an athlete, published author and cultural change leader born in Saigon and now divides her time between London and the USA. As an award-winning bodybuilder and one of the first openly queer Asian athletes, Amazin is committed to inspiring and promoting inclusion and representation in sport.

Amazin said: “The high-profile achievements of the likes of tennis ace Emma Raducanu and Olympic skateboarding star, Sky Brown has really put the spotlight on east Asian sports people. However, until very recently, there was little celebrated when it comes to the contribution east Asian people have played in Britain’s sporting heritage.

I’m delighted to be joining the Sporting Heritage Ambassador team and excited to support their work in raising the profile of hidden or lost sporting heritage collections, particularly from the east Asian and LGBTQ+ communities.”

Dr Justine Reilly, founder and director of Sporting Heritage CIC says: “Our passion is all about keeping your sporting stories alive – and that means for everyone – whatever your sport, background, race, disability. The heritage we share, and the impact is has on present and future generations is huge and cannot be underestimated, particularly when it comes to those from under-represented and diverse communities. Working together with Amazin we hope to uncover sporting heritage stories from people and communities that may otherwise have been lost or ignored.”

Dr Reilly adds: “Across the four nations we have such a rich, diverse sporting heritage. We need to ensure that we showcase, preserve and protect as much as we can so that it reflects the true involvement and contribution of those that take part.”

Robbie de Santos, director of communications and external affairs at Stonewall, (he/him) said: “Sport has the unique power to bring us all together and, as a Stonewall Sports Ambassador, Amazin has done so much to support LGBTQ+ people from all backgrounds to participate in the games that they love. We’re incredibly proud to work with her and know she’ll bring the same dedication to her role at Sporting Heritage and continue to shine an important light on sporting stories from diverse communities.”

If you are from an east Asian background and have sporting heritage collections and stories please share details by contacting info@sportingheritage.org.uk