Entries are now open for Aberdeen’s Sports Awards – so get nominating the Granite City athletes, coaches, teams, volunteers, clubs and more you think are deserving of recognition in March next year!
Aberdeen’s state-of-the-art P&J Live arena will once again play host to the glitzy celebration of sporting success, with the 2023 ceremony scheduled for March 23.
In 2022, the first Aberdeen’s Sports Awards to be held following the Covid-19 pandemic were a roaring success, and compared by 1980s Winter Olympics ski jump cult hero Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards.
We want the 2023 event to be even better, but need you to help us by putting forward the people involved in sport at both the elite and grassroots level – some of whom may be unsung heroes – who you think deserves to be considered among the categories.
There will even be a brand new Personal Trainer category in this year’s awards – which are organised by the Evening Express with support from Sport Aberdeen – aimed at recognising those in the city who are doing a great job of improving the physical and mental wellbeing of their fellow Aberdonians. This inaugural PT award will be decided by a public vote.
Evening Express editor Craig Walker said: “We’re delighted to launch Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 – which is always a highlight of the Granite City sporting calendar – with entries now open.
“The 2022 ceremony was one of the moments which helped confirm to me normality had returned to Aberdeen’s sports community in the wake of the pandemic, but we want 2023 to top it!
“Sport is vital in our communities and comes with a myriad of benefits to people’s physical and mental health, and Aberdeen sporting success stories – at local level or on the world stage – must be celebrated.
“In March, at P&J Live, we will once again celebrate the elite and grassroots athletes, coaches, volunteers and clubs who populate Aberdeen’s sporting landscape, as well as the projects which break down barriers to athletic activity, the personal trainers who help people on their journey to physical and mental fitness, and more.
“Please get nominating – and I hope to see many of you there to celebrate with us at P&J Live on March 23.”
Category sponsors already signed up
Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023 have already been boosted by local organisations coming on board to sponsor some of the prestigious categories.
Club of the Year will again be supported by ClubSport Aberdeen, with chair Mark Pain saying: “ClubSport Aberdeen are delighted for the opportunity to once again celebrate the exceptional work of local sports clubs as co-sponsor for the Club of the Year award.”
Grampian Disability Sport are co-sponsors of the club prize, with their chair Claire McDonald saying they are keen to emphasise “how important inclusive practice is within our local clubs”.
Builders Cala Homes have thrown their weight behind the Team Performance of the Year prize, with sales and marketing director Fraser Carr, saying: “As a business with a long history in Aberdeen, we are delighted to play a part.
“We focus on the quality and the passion of our people, and their team-working which delivers for our customers. This mirrors a lot of the great individual, team and community approaches you see brought to life through the Sports Awards.”
Active Schools manager at Sport Aberdeen Kim McRobbie said they are “delighted” to be sponsoring the School Innovation Award, adding: “We look forward to seeing the variety of positive and innovative ways schools have used sport and physical activity to support the physical and mental wellbeing of their pupils and wider school communities.”
Atholl Scott Financial Services are sponsors for the new Personal Trainer prize.
Chartered financial planner Lesley Pottinger said: “People who experience financial wellbeing have found that it has positive effects on their overall mental and physical health”, and the company are, therefore “delighted” to support an event which promotes physical pursuits generally.
Aberdeen Sports Village, Burness Paull and P&J Live are also already on board as sponsors for 2023 event.
How to nominate
For a full list of categories and to nominate an individual, team, club or other organisation in Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2023, visit: www.aberdeenssportsawards.co.uk
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