Sporting stars to be celebrated

8.41.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 12th Jun 2010

Rugby international Phil de Glanville will host the first ever Wiltshire and Swindon sports awards on September 14 at the Corn Exchange in Devizes.

The new awards are being hosted jointly by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Activity Partnership and Swindon Borough Council to recognise and honour the achievements of sports clubs, volunteers, coaches and schools across the Wiltshire and Swindon.

Nominations are open until July 30 and anyone can nominate an individual or organisation in one of the 13 categories. Forms and criteria can be downloaded from the Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Activity Partnership and Swindon Borough Council websites.

The categories are:

Sports Personality of the Year

Young Sports Personality of the Year

Sports Club/Team of the Year

Most Innovative Club of the Year

Junior Coach of the Year

Children's Coach of the Year

Participation Coach of the Year

Performance Coach of the Year

Young Coach of the Year

Most Inclusive Club of the Year

Unsung Hero of the Year

Young Volunteer of the Year

School Sports Project of the Year

Stuart Wheeler, WC cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: "We know that people put in a tremendous amount of work week in, week out across this area and we want to recognise that work and the people that make it happen. Sport plays a major part in our health and wellbeing and is going to be even more in the spotlight in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

"These awards aim to honour and celebrate the superb sporting achievements in Wiltshire and Swindon. This is your chance to nominate someone, or an organisation or school, that you believe is making a real difference and deserves to be recognised. We are looking forward to receiving those nominations."

Steve Boocock, chief executive of the Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Activity Partnership, said: "Clubs and coaches are at the heart of sport in Wiltshire and Swindon. As part of our preparation for London 2012 we want to mark the achievement of those clubs and individuals that make a real contribution to sport, and celebrate those who represent the best in our communities."