Will there be Sport Relief 2023? BBC charity event switches to yearly campaign
Ahead of Red Nose Day 2023, you might be wondering if there are any Sport Relief events this year.
For the past two decades, Sport Relief, a charity event hosted by Comic Relief, has been held in conjunction with Red Nose Day. These campaigns would alternate annually, with Sport Relief one year followed by Red Nose Day the next.
For anyone wondering if there will be any Sport Relief events this year since Red Nose Day falls on March 17, 2023, here’s what we found out.
Will there be Sport Relief 2023?
No, there will be no special Sport Relief event in 2023. This is because the charity event has transitioned to a year-long campaign instead of a biennial fundraiser.
The final Sport Relief event aired in 2020 with Gary Lineker, Paddy McGuinness, Alex Scott and Maya Jama among the night’s presenters. Total funds raised on the evening of the event were £40,540,355.
The decision to switch Sport Relief to an annual event was made in 2021. For this reason there has not been a specific Sport Relief event in recent years.
How Sport Relief continues to help people in the UK and around the world
While no longer a dedicated fundraising event, Sport Relief continues to work behind the scenes with other organizations and charities on their year-round campaigns.
Last year, Sport Relief partnered with United By 2022 and the Commonwealth Sport Foundation to organize the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Money raised from Commonwealth Games viewers was split equally between Comic Relief, United By 2022 and the Commonwealth Sport Foundation. They all strive to tackle inequality and mental health issues and improve the lives of young people in the UK and Commonwealth.
Last year a spin-off of the Commonwealth Games was organized by Sport Relief, Birmingham 2022, and the BBC. They hosted the All-Star Games and invited sports legends to compete to raise funds for Comic Relief. They also encouraged people to raise funds at home by participating in challenges like Move 22 and the Queen’s Baton Relay.
Sport Relief isn’t the only changing campaign in 2023
Comic Relief has made many changes to how the charity operates over the past two years. Not only have they changed Sport Relief’s campaign format, they have also changed the relationship with their long-term partners.
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has been a Comic Relief partner since 1999. Previously Sainsbury’s was the home of the Red Noses and sold other Red Nose Day merchandise. But now Sainsbury’s Sport Relief is joining in with their behind-the-scenes work. The supermarket chain is helping Comic Relief with a new initiative called Nourish the Nation. This aims to tackle food poverty in the UK and around the world.
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