Chairperson of the National Sports Awards Committee, Cleofoster Harris has expressed satisfaction with the nominations submitted for this year’s awards ceremony, scheduled for March 15th.
According to Harris, the committee received 76 nominations across 20 different sporting disciplines, maintaining a consistent level of participation from various sporting associations.
“I’m very pleased with the number of nominees we’ve received,” Harris stated. “The fact that we’ve maintained consistent participation over the last two or three years shows the commitment of our sporting community.”
He noted that all associations submitted their nominations within the designated three-month period, from September to November.
When discussing the nomination process, Harris addressed the notable absence of 2023 Sportsman of the Year, Olympian Tiger Tyson, from this year’s nominations. He explained that neither the Kiteboard Association nor the Sailing Association nominated Tyson, despite his nomination by the Sailing Association in the previous year. Harris noted the ironic nature of the situation, particularly given that Tyson’s father heads one of the associations in question.
Harris also expressed surprise at the limited number of submissions for the Lifetime Achievement Awards. He revealed that only three associations submitted nominations in this category: Cycling’s Charles Ira Fabian, Draughts’ Victor Parker, and Bodybuilding’s Steve Williams. The chairperson found this particularly concerning given the total number of sporting federations and associations in Antigua and Barbuda.
“Out of our 20 federations and associations, I expected to see more nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Awards,” Harris said. “These awards are crucial for recognizing long-term contributions to sport in our nation.”
Looking ahead, Harris outlined the committee’s next steps, which include producing the awards magazine and finalizing venue details. He emphasized their commitment to increasing the visibility of awardees within the community, explaining that the magazine will serve as the event’s programme and will be available on the awards night and subsequently at the Ministry of Sports.
The chairperson confirmed that the committee expects to announce their choice for guest speaker by the end of January, maintaining their ahead-of-schedule planning approach. Harris strongly encouraged more associations to participate fully in the nominations process, particularly for the Lifetime Achievement category, emphasizing the importance of recognizing athletic and official contributions.
“They should not disenfranchise any of their athletes or officials,” Harris stated, highlighting the significance of acknowledging the hard work and personal sacrifices made by individuals in each discipline.
He particularly emphasized how athletes often fund their own training and development, thereby making their recognition through these awards even more important.
