Sport Waikato has been forced to cancel their sport awards for the first time in over 30 years but there is a new opportunity for people in the region to be acknowledged.

A decision was made to cancel the district sports awards due to Covid-19 disrupting sport and the difficulties of fairly judging one sportsperson, team, or coach against another.

While some sportspeople may have been able to attend their international or national events, COVID-19 may have prevented others from competing.

The decision impacts the Brian Perry Waikato Regional Sports Awards which were to be held in January.

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However, Sport Waikato chief executive Matthew Cooper said they still really wanted to celebrate sport and active recreation and its importance in the region.

“We want to be able to acknowledge the innovation, the partnerships, the collaboration and the many different ways our communities have managed to keep sport and active recreation a focus in this year of adversity.”

So as a less formal way, and in recognition of the challenges of 2020, Sport Waikato has launched the Sport and Active Recreation Awards.

It will celebrate nominations from those who have used this year as an opportunity to think differently about how they keep their community active.

Along with the judged categories of Community Connection, Sport and Active Recreation Partnership, Outstanding Active Space Initiative, Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and Service to Sport Awards, there are also two categories enabling public voting on both People’s Choice Sportsperson and People’s Choice Sporting or Active Recreation Moment awards.

The Community Connection Award is for those individuals or organisations who have persevered with their sport by offering different alternatives, offered online opportunities, while the Outstanding Active Space Initiative focuses on a celebration of the ways that sport, active recreation and play spaces can be created anywhere.

Nominations open on August 28 and close on October 30. Public voting for People’s Choice award categories opens on November 2 and closes November 30. For more information visit www.sportwaikato.org.nz.