from Athletcis Northern Ireland Olympic boxer, Paddy Barnes, has thrown his weight behind awards which will honour sports coaches, trainers and teachers at community and local level. He joined his Holy Family Boxing Club coach, Gerry Storey, at the launch of the Lucozade Sport Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Awards 2009 at the club premises in North Queen Street Community Centre.
“Coaches are the often forgotten men and women who help prepare our sporting heroes for success – these awards aim to recognise their contribution to sport, particularly at club and local level,” said Councillor Bob Stoker, chairman of the Parks and Leisure Committee.
Gerry has coached the Irish Olympic Boxing Team on four occasions and helped train, as amateurs, some of Northern Ireland’s finest professional boxers including former World Featherweight Champion, Barry McGuigan and three times British Flyweight Champion, Hugh Russell.
Belfast City Council and Sport Belfast are working in partnership on the awards and entry forms have been sent to all local clubs and sporting organisations to nominate possible award winners.
“The awards are a celebration of the inspiring work of our coaches, teachers, leaders, volunteers, parents and all those who work tirelessly and often without thanks to make Belfast a healthy city in which to live, work or play,” said Councillor Stoker.
“It is a chance of clubs to say thank you and publicly recognise the contribution of those working behind the scenes. These are very much community based awards so there is also the opportunity to recognise the work done at local leisure centres to promote health and physical activity.”
The Lucozade Sport Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Awards 2009 are split into nine categories. Some categories are further sub-divided, offering prizes for different levels of coaching.
The closing date for nominations is Friday 8 May 2009 at 12pm.
Nominees can only be nominated in one category. Multiple nominations for the same person, but in different categories, will not be accepted.
The award categories are:
Education – includes prizes for primary, secondary and third level education
Coach in a Sports Club – includes prizes for junior, senior, female and disability coaches
Coach in a Community Organisation – includes prizes for coaches in north, south, east and west Belfast
Sport and Physical Activity
Health and Physical Activity
Developing Coaches and Volunteers – includes prizes for coaching mentor, best newcomer and volunteer of the year
Leisure Centres
High Performance Coach – includes prizes for a facility which supports high performance and a major sports event with development potential
Hall of Fame – your chance to vote for your favourite Belfast athlete.
Further information about each category is available from the nomination form.
Email your completed nomination form to [email protected] or return it by post to:
Lucozade Sport Belfast Physical Activity and Sports Awards 2009
Cecil Ward Building
4-10 Linenhall Street
Belfast
BT2 8BP
More information on the awards and entry forms are available to download on
Click Here For Sports Awards Web Site
[Pictured: 2008 Lucozade Sports Awards where athletics was successful]FORMS ARE NOW ALSO AVAILABLE IN ATHLETICS HOUSE
