Leisure & Culture Dundee has announced that nominations for the 23/24 Dundee Sports Awards are now open, with the awards ceremony taking place on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Apex Hotel sponsored by The Gym Rental Company.
The awards pay tribute to the success of the city's top sports clubs, athletes, schools and volunteers on the same evening. The theme of the awards is “Changing Lives Through Sport” with the awards celebrating the wider impact that sport has on communities, individuals, and schools across the city in addition to celebrating exceptional sporting performances. Two Changing Lives awards will be presented, one to a school and one to a sports club or community sports hub that has adopted a Changing Lives Through Sport approach and intentionally used sport to change lives in the past year. This organisation will have shown how they have used sport to impact areas such as anti-social behaviour, attendance at school, attainment, or mental health.
Last year's award winners included Commonwealth Games Boxing Gold Medalist Sam Hickey as 22/23 Sportsperson of the Year, Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club as 22/23 Club of the Year and Harris Academy as 22/23 School of the Year. Local Olympian Natasha McKay was also recognised on the eve of her retirement for an outstanding career.
There are 13 Award Categories this year, each with its own nomination criteria.
- Student Volunteer of the Year
- Young Volunteer of the Year
- School Volunteer of the Year
- Club Volunteer of the Year
- Volunteer Coach of the Year
- Jenny Wood Allen Memorial Trophy
- Lifetime Commitment Award
- School of the Year
- Club of the Year
- Young Sports Person of the Year
- Sports Person of the Year
- Changing Lives Award (Community)
- Changing Lives Award (School)
Judy Dobbie, Director of Leisure & Culture Dundee, said
"We're looking forward to celebrating sports from across the city and giving well deserved recognition to Dundee's performance and community sports clubs, schools, athletes and volunteers."
"The awards evening highlights the efforts of those who provide the wide range of sporting opportunities available in schools and communities across Dundee. If you know someone who has done something special over the past year, please put them forward for a Dundee Sports Award."
Alison MacKenzie, Community Sport Hub Officer at Leisure & Culture Dundee, who has helped organise the awards, added
"The Dundee Sports Awards would not be possible without the support of event and trophy sponsors. Leisure & Culture Dundee is delighted that the Gym Rental Company will sponsor the 23/24 Dundee Sports Awards. We would also like to thank our 23/24 trophy sponsors, whose support is hugely appreciated."
This year, the trophy sponsors are Abertay University, The Evening Telegraph, Doe Sport, Dundee & Angus College, Dundee City Disability Sport, Gladstone, Quest Precision Engineering, Sport Dundee and Sportscotland
Andy McLaughlan from Gym Rental Company said
“The Gym Rental Company are delighted to support the Dundee Sports Awards for the second year running. The success stories from 2023 were simply inspirational from both athletes and volunteers alike. We are proud to be associated with such an important event to the City of Dundee.”
To make a nomination, visit www.leisureandculturedundee.com/leisure/dundee-sports-awards. Only commitment contributed between April 2023 and March 2024 will be considered.
The closing date for nominations is Sunday, March 10 2024.