The 2004 National Sports Awards are just one week away and, according to co-ordinator of the gala event, Gloria Ballantyne, “everything is in place”.

Ballantyne was responding to reports from some quarters that preparations for the event set for Saturday, February 5, at the Methodist Church Hall, were “low keyed”.{{more}}

She disclosed that the trophies for the awardees had been ordered and other arrangements are well covered.

Ballantyne said that 14 national sporting associations had submitted their nominations and that the adjudicators met last Saturday. She also said that the three finalists in the various categories were to have been decided upon earlier this week.

The SVG Automobile Association, Bodybuilding, Squash, Netball, Table Tennis, Tennis, Women’s Cricket, Cycling, Rugby, Athletics, Football, Basketball and the SVG Motor Cycling Associations are all in with a chance of copping awards.

The co-ordinator said that winners of the individual categories would get an increase from $200 to $500.

There are 45 nominees in the individual categories. The individual categories to be judged are the Junior and Senior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, the Association of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Four associations and one individual will be special nominees at the ceremony, which will have national netball captain Halimah Deshong as the feature speaker.

The awards ceremony, to be held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence”, is expected to cost just over $40, 000.