Lalit has this week been officially recognised as one of the world's leading sports innovators at a prestigious International Sports Management Awards evening in London.
The 2011 International Sports Event Management (ISEM) Awards evening at the Wyndham Grand Hotel, rewarded Lalit and IMG Executive Vice-President Andrew Wildblood, for their success in establishing the IPL as a commercially successful, global tournament with the 'Outstanding Contribution Award'.
The event, now in its fifth year, is described by organisers in an evening that; "celebrates and recognises the innovation and creativity within the sports industry" and judges selected Lalit and Andrew ahead of a high quality list of nominees. They were honoured for their contribution as key figures in the foundation of the IPL in 2008 which attracted star players from across the world and produced billion-dollar broadcast deals and a level of global recognition that now makes it one of the world's biggest sporting tournaments.
Former winners include Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 201 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Gilbert Felli, Executive Director, International Olympic Committee and F1 President Bernie Ecclestone. judging panel spokesman, Kevin Roberts said: "The Outstanding Contribution Award is the most prestigious award in the ISEM calendar and is presented for the most significant contribution to the development of international sports events. The judges agreed that Lalit and Andrew had been the driving force behind one of the most innovative and commercially successful new sports events in the modern era."
Lalit Modi said: "To be recognised by industry professionals in this way means so much to me after a very difficult 18 months. It proves to me that knowledgeable and influential people within international sports management, understand that what we put in place for the IPL at the outset, has allowed it to flourish as an outstanding tournament on the world's sporting calendar. This is a tremendous and unexpected honour and an extremely emotional experience to be acknowledged by such highly respected people within sport and business."
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