Nominations Sought For 2024 Belfast Sports Awards

Belfast City Council has called for nominations for the 2024 Belfast Sports Awards, which aims to recognise the hard work and dedication of those involved in sport, from grassroots level to the very top of the international sporting arena.

With 16 awards across seven categories, the awards also seek to recognise the unsung heroes of sport – the coaches and volunteers without whose commitment, the athletes and clubs could not continue in the way that they do.

Launching the Belfast Sports Awards for another year, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Ryan Murphy, said: "2023 was a thrilling year of sporting firsts and achievement, with local sportspeople achieving World, Commonwealth Youth and European medals in cycling, rowing, and swimming. 2024 will be another huge sporting year with the upcoming Olympics Summer Games in Paris where over 1000 medals are up for grabs, and we’re getting behind all our local athletes who are endeavouring to qualify.

"It gives me great pride to launch the nominations for the Belfast Sports Awards 2024. These awards are the perfect opportunity to recognise the people that make sport happen in Belfast – from our inspirational young athletes to the coaches and people who volunteer behind the scenes.

"Through the Belfast Agenda, Belfast City Council has committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our city. Our £105 million Leisure Transformation Programme demonstrates our determination to getting more people more active, more often.

"I would encourage you to take a few minutes to recognise your sporting hero by nominating them in the Belfast Sports Awards, recognising all the hours others spend developing potential, being a role model and helping to improve the health and fitness of our city."

Award nominations include;

• Pathway to Clubs – an individual who has created a pathway from education to club participation, guiding children and young adults to long-term involvement in sport and physical activity.

• Healthy lifestyle – recognising someone who has made a positive impact on raising the profile of the physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle.

• Coach of the Year –categories include Young Couch (under 30), Senior Coach, Female Coach and Disability Coach. Nominees must hold a recognised sport’s Governing Body qualification.

• Team of the Year – team categories include Junior Team of the Year (competing at under 19 years and younger) and Senior Team of the Year.

• Sports Personality of the Year – categories include Junior (under 18) and Senior (over 18 and recognises the achievements in the international arena. Athletes should have gained significant honours and success within the last 12 months.

• Volunteer of the Year – recognising the unsung heroes of sport. Nominees should be people volunteering beyond the coaching role. For example, this could include a parent who drives the team to and from matches every week, or a person who is always fundraising to support the club.

• Sporting Hall of Fame - recognising the achievement of Belfast sports people in the international sporting arena. This could be a retired athlete or an athlete who is still competing and has achieved significant success in their sport.

The closing date for nominations is 12 noon on Monday 12 February 2024. To be eligible for an award nomination, a nominee must either live within the Belfast City Council area or belong to a Belfast-based sports club or organisation.

Those shortlisted will be invited to attend the awards ceremony on 22 March 2024 at Belfast City Hall.

For more information on the Belfast Sports Awards 2024 and to make a nomination, please visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/sportsawards