Britain will honour Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty and Formula one racing driver Lewis Hamilton for their contribution to the "diversity agenda". Shetty will be presented with the Global Diversity Award- 2008 at a glittering gala at the Riverbank Park Plaza hotel hosted by the Next Steps Foundation, tonight (July 1).Shetty rose to fame last year after she was subjected to racist remarks and subsequent humiliation by some participants in the popular television reality show 'Big Brother'. She was praised universally for showing restraint and handling the issue with poise and dignity. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Any Burnham will be prominent among the 500 attending the event.The event will highlight the European Year of Intercultural dialogue, an EU Commission initiative that invites EU nations to celebrate diversity in Europe. MP Keith Vaz, Patron of the Next Steps Foundation and UK Ambassador for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue said, "I am very pleased that we are able to honour two such important contributors to the diversity and equality agenda in the UK and across the world. Both have faced adversity in their careers but have dealt with it with grace and dignity.""I am delighted that we will be joined by two Cabinet Ministers. This signifies the importance with which they regard the issue of diversity." "European champions will also be appointed during  the evening. These are people who will be able to spread the message of what this year means for Europe. I hope that this evening helps to raise awareness," He said. (With inputs from PTI) ... read more »