Sports Reporter
THE Sports Commission have moved the unveiling of this year’s nominees for the Annual National Sports Awards that was supposed to be held this month to December 6 due to logistical challenges. The unveiling ceremony was initially pencilled in for November 15, following the closure of submissions of nominations on November 4. However, Sports Commission corporate communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa yesterday said the unveiling ceremony is now on December 6.
“The issue is that the judges were supposed to meet last week to look at the submissions but this could not happen due to logistical challenges. The unveiling has now been set for the 6th of December,” said Nheweyembwa.
The awards will be held on December 13.
And Nheweyembwa said they are happy with the response they got from most of the national associations in terms of the submissions that were made.
“The submissions were quite okay, it was satisfactory and overwhelming in some areas. The only area with a challenge was sport for people living with a disability, especially the juniors – boys and girls – because their competitions are from the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Games and the Danhiko Games.
“They have not been exposed to many competitions in order to make meaningful submissions.
‘‘Over the years when we are not participating in the Africa Union Sports Council Region Five Games, especially the juniors living with a disability, there is a challenge.
“And our call to the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee is not just to rely on the National Paralympic Games and the Danhiko Games.
‘‘They need to diversify to expose their athletes to other competitions beyond Danhiko and the National Paralympic Games,” said Nheweyembwa.
Boxer Charles Manyuchi is the reigning Sportsperson of the Year after he was honoured at a ceremony in January after the awards were moved to this year.
National cricket coach Heath Streak is the favourite for the Coach of the Year award.
A number of cricketers, including Brendan Taylor, who won a prestigious tournament in English county cricket, are also likely to fight for the Sportsperson of the Year award.