Sports Awards ceremony will be ‘an improvement’ this year – Minister

The Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture has promised the local sporting community that this year’s sporting awards ceremony will be much improved, in comparison to last year’s event.{{more}}

Speaking at the launch, which was held on Monday, January 19, Minister McKie said that following a review of the Sports Awards 2013, a clear direction for this year’s event, and future ones, has been established.

“We expect that Sports Awards 2014… will be an improvement of the one that was held last year,” he explained. “As we do these reviews going forward, we will see continuous improvement.”

McKie said that the Sports Awards ceremony, which is organized by the National Sports Council, is not only intended to “recognize and reward” the efforts of athletes, but also the various associations and administrators involved in the sector.

Referring to the Government’s policy in regard to Sports, McKie further added: “Sport will continue to be central to our development… It is through sports we engage not only the very young persons in our country, but also the middle aged… and the 60 and above!”

Julian Burgin, acting manager of the National Sports Council said: “We try to give our sportsmen and women an occasion to celebrate what they have done; an occasion to receive some reward for working hard.”

The event, which is being celebrated under the theme ‘Fostering lasting friendship through Sports,’ will see sportsmen and women awarded in the categories of Junior Sportswoman of the Year, Junior Sportsman of the Year, Senior Sportswoman of the Year, Senior Sportsman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sports Personality of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year, Sports Photographer of the Year, Groundsman of the Year, and a special person will be selected to receive the Chairman’s Award.

The nominees for Junior Sportswoman of the Year are Shne Joachim, Sandy Myers, Khadija Williams, Shernelle Browne and Deslorn Lawrence, with the Junior Sportsman of the Year nominees being Javon Rawlins, Nikolas Sylvester, Benson Nanton, Jason Doyle, Trevor Z Bailey, Delshorn Welcome, Rodell Fraser, Deron Rouse and Gidron Pope.

Senior Sportswoman of the Year nominees are Kinneke Alexander, Greta Primus, Marianne Fredericks, Akiria Samuel and Samantha Lynch. Meanwhile, the nominees for Senior Sportsman of the Year are Garwin Phillips, Jules Snagg, Cameron Adams, Cornelius Stewart, Sunil Ambris, Jesse Huggins, Emelius Alexander and Mikhail Charles.

Nominees for Coach of the Year are Michael Ollivierre, Kyle Dougan, Leonard Matthews, James Bentick and Larson Lewis.

The event will take place on February 7, 2015, at the Spring Estate, under the patronage of the Governor General HE Sir Frederick Ballantyne. The Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves is also expected to be in attendance.

Major prizes (trophies and cash awards) have been provided by the National Lotteries Authority.