Sports awards nominations open

Nominations for the national sports awards are now open for national federations to honour their standout athletes in 2011.

Eighteen main awards in four different categories are up for grabs with nominations closing on March 16.

The date for the annual sports awards is yet to be confirmed, however a Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic (CISNOC) staff member says the plan is to hold the event in early May.

National federations and members of the general public can pick up a copy of the sports awards nomination form from the CISNOC office in Taputapuatea or contact the office on 24095 to be sent an electronic copy.

The sports awards up for grabs in section A are : sportsman of the year, sportswoman of the year, junior sportsman of the year and junior sportswoman of the year.

Athletes nominated for junior sportsman and sportswoman of the year must be under 18 years old before December 31, 2012.

In section B the awards up for grabs are sports team of the year, sports achievement of the year, fair play award, IOC sports personality award and women in sport trophy.

Section C includes awards for sports technical official of the year, sports administrator of the year, sports coach of the year, best administrated outer island sports association of the year and best outer island sports achievement award.

The final section includes Manea Zone sportsman of the year, Manea Zone sportswoman of the year, Purapura Zone sportsman of the year, Purapura Zone sportswoman of the year.

Nominations for the sports hall of fame are also open. The community can nominate people who have helped with the development of sports in the Cook Islands to be inducted into the sport hall of fame.