Paralympian honours backlash
Leading Paralympian athletes have criticised what they believe to be inconsistencies in the sports-dominating New Years Honours list, where successful Paralympians missed out on top honours, with only cyclist Sarah Storey made a dame.
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Sir Bradley Wiggins says he's 'uncomfortable' with title
Cyclist Bradley Wiggins has been made a knight in the New Year Honours list. It caps a remarkable year in which he became the first Briton to win the Tour de France, won Olympic gold and scooped the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
David Weir: Paralympians work harder for recognition
Six-time Paralympic gold medallist David Weir said he was "honoured" to receive a CBE, but suggested Paralympians have to work harder than their Olympic counterparts to earn recognition.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Weir said, "I would have been disappointed if Sarah Storey had not been made a dame because she deserves it with 11 gold medals".
"It's a weird one how they choose it. Sometimes it seems that Paralympians have to win lots and lots of medals to get a damehood or a knighthood", he continued. "Kelly Holmes was made a dame when she won two gold medals, but it seems we have to get into double figures to get it".
"Sarah Storey should have been awarded this years ago, and I just feel that sometimes we are left out perhaps because we are not in the public eye", Weir added.
Weir is the only Paralympian among the five athletes awarded CBEs, while only two disabled athletes received OBEs in the list published today.
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'Mistake' not to award Mo Farah a knighthood
A former sports minister has said that the decision to award Mo Farah a CBE is wrong, arguing that he deserves a higher accolade.
Former sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe told the Sun newspaper:
– Gerry SutcliffeMo’s a national hero. I think it’s a mistake if Wiggins and Ainslie are honoured like this and Mo isn’t.
Mo’s a double gold-medal winner and you look at his performances over a period of time and he’s equal with those two in terms of performance and dedication.
Given what a knighthood for Mo would have done to inspire athletes all over the UK, you have to ask what’s going on.
Natasha Baker awarded an MBE after two para-equestrian titles
Natasha Baker won two para-equestrian titles at London 2012 and has been awarded an MBE.
Here she speaks about her Paralympics experience this summer:
MBE for Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams
British boxer Nicola Adams is to be awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
The 30-year-old from Leeds made history by becoming the first woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing.
Louis Smith's MBE is 'out of this world'
Olympic medallist-turned-Strictly Come Dancing champion Louis Smith described his MBE as "without a doubt the proudest moment of my life".
The Peterborough gymnast was a member of Britain's surprise bronze medal success in the men's team competition at the London 2012 Olympics.
He also won silver on the pommel horse with one of the hardest routines in the world.
"To receive this honour is out of this world and something I never would have dreamt of as I grew up in the sport of gymnastics," said Smith, 23.
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Long jump champion Greg Rutherford given MBE
Olympic gold medal-winning long jumper Greg Rutherford is to be awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list.
Dave Brailsford: 'This is recognition for the whole of cycling'
Dave Brailsford has said that he sees his knighthood as a group, not an individual accolade.
Triathlete Alistair Brownlee gets New Year MBE
New Year Honours 2013: Andy Murray OBE
Tennis star Andy Murray has been awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours.
After his disappointing loss in the Wimbledon men's final, Murray went on to win two Olympics medals and the 2012 US Open.
