The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A NIGHT of celebration for the achievements of athletes at all levels, the National Sports Awards Ceremony looks to celebrate and unify sports, according to event organiser Adrian Francis.

The event, a concert-styled awards ceremony modelled closely after ESPNs “ESPY Awards,” will be hosted on November 19 in the Atlantis Resort’s Crown Ballroom under the theme “Number Uno - Still Number 1.”

“It celebrates the top performances of the year at every level and the goal is to bring all of these persons together under one roof. Top performances like Shaunae Miller, Chris Brown, Emily Morley and every one else who has achieved major accomplishments, getting them together is key,” Francis said. “For one night, the country gets to see what sports is about and celebrates these incredible achievements like we do in other aspects of Bahamian society. We want to celebrate them not tolerate them. Take Chris Brown for example, he is preparing to retire so his whole goal now is to ensure he goes out with a bang so we want to celebrate him. Athletes like Jonquel Jones, Champ Stuart who is almost becoming a folk story in the Mets organisation, and dozens of others will be recognised. It shows how diverse the Bahamas is in the sporting arena.”

The list of winners in 2015 included: Prime Minister Award for National Pride and overall Athlete of the Year - Shaunae Miller (athletics); Minister of Sports Award - Special Olympics; Olympic Committee Award - Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace (swimming); Tourism Impact Award - Sunshine Insurance Marathon Bahamas; National Coach of the Year - Andy Loveitt (swimming); Male Collegiate Athlete of the year - Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield (basketball); Female Collegiate Athlete of the Year - Jonquel Jones (basketball); Overall Junior Male Athlete of the Year - LaQuan Nairn (athletics); Overall Junior Female Athlete of the Year - Joanna Evans (swimming); Overall Senior Male Athlete of the Year - Tureano ‘Reno’ Johnson (boxing); Overall Senior Female Athlete of the Year - Shaunae Miller (athletics); Rising Star Award - Steven Gardiner (athletics); National Secondary Athletic School of the Year - St Augustine’s College; National Team of the Year – Swimming; Family Island Senior High School - Bishop Michael Eldon (Grand Bahama); Phil Smith Award for Sports Journalism - Fred Sturrup (Nassau Guardian); Corporate Sponsor of the Year – BTC; National Award for Courage - Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands; Brand Sponsor of the Year - Infrasoft Tech (from India); Federation of the Year - Bahamas Swimming Federation; Federation President of the Year - Algernon Cargill (swimming) and the Craig Flowers Award for Patriotism - Craig Flowers.

“This year we will make a few changes to honour deserving icons. For instance, the courage award is named in honour of Leevan Sands for his courage in his battle back and continuing his Olympic dream at Rio. We want to use this to also bring federations and schools together under one banner. We want to build a bridge to greatness. Hopefully we will have a packed house and support from the Bahamian people,” Francis said. “All of the categories the sports media will be voting on. We want the people that are hands on with these athletes, federations, schools and associations to assure transparency.”

Monetary incentives for elite athletes will also be doled out, according to Dr Daniel Johnson.

“The Ministry has always paid each athlete the respective incentive award they may have earned at any eligible competition. Such competitions include the World Championships and Olympic Games,” he said.

“Shaunae Miller, our latest ‘Golden Girl’, has already received over $28,000 for this year already in subvention assistance and additionally she will receive her incentive award of $40,000 and a land grant for her outstanding gold medal at the Rio Olympics.”

Other incentive award winners will include the silver medal winning 4x400m team ($10,000 each), high jumpers Donald Thomas and Trevor Barry ($5,000 each) and sprint hurdler Pedrya Seymour ($5,000). The supporting cast of coaches will also receive incentive awards in accordance with the National Sports Policy.