Ian McGeechan, Jenson Button and Beth Tweddle have all been included in the 2010 New Year Honours List.
Cricketer Taylor and golfer Matthew awarded MBEs
Ian McGeechan, Jenson Button and Beth Tweddle are amongst the sporting personalities to be included in the 2010 New Year Honours List.
British and Irish Lions legend McGeechan, who has featured in seven tours in total - five as a coach and two as a player - has been knighted for his services to rugby union.
The 63-year-old enjoyed a distinguished playing career, making his Scotland debut in 1972 and going on to win 32 caps playing at fly-half or in the centres.
He then went on to become coach of his homeland in 1988, steering them to the Grand Slam and Five Nations title two years later.
Legendary Lion
However, McGeechan is best known for his career with the Lions, including tours as a player to South Africa in 1974, which ended in a series victory, and then to New Zealand in 1977.
He went on to become coach of the Lions, leading them glory on trips to Australia (1989) and South Africa (1997).
McGeechan was unable to manage a repeat success against the Springboks this summer, though, as his team went down to a 2-1 defeat in the Test series.
Meanwhile, Button has been awarded the MBE after being crowned Formula One world champion in 2009.
The 29-year-old, who will be driving alongside compatriot Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next year, won six of the first seven races of the F1 season in his Brawn GP car before eventually sealing the title in Brazil.
Ross Brawn, Button's former boss, has been honoured with an OBE after leading Brawn GP, who have since been bought by Mercedes, to the constructors' title.
Gymnast Tweddle has been awarded with the MBE after winning gold in the floor discipline at the World Championships in London.
The same honour has also been bestowed on England cricketer Claire Taylor and golfer Catriona Matthew, who won the British Open just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter.
Armfield honoured
Former England footballer Jimmy Armfield, who was already an OBE, has been made a CBE for his community work in Lancashire, while Blackburn striker Jason Roberts has been awarded the MBE as part of the Grenada list.
Phillip Darnton, the chairman of Cycling England, has been made an OBE for services to transport.
Also recognised for services to sport are; Christopher Cohen (CBE), Vic Akers, John Derbyshire, Celia Godsall, David Harrison, Pro William Hillis, Wendy Martinson, (OBEs) Heather Crouch, Gordon Guthrie, Frank Hannah, Anna Hemmings, John Hemmings, Barry Hitchcock, John Alexander Jameson, Sheila Layton, Terence McLernon, Frederick Millar, Keith Hedley Moss, Janice Naylor, Jean Pickering, Stephen Prescott, William Roulston and Andrew Wood and (MBEs).
Shirley Hughes, Eva Loeffler, who have been awarded OBEs, and Susan Clarke (MBE) have been honoured for their services to disability sport.
