Going for gold!

SUZY CHAPMAN, coach of Northern Thunder, receives her coach of the year award from Deputy Mayor Councillor Olwen Chadderton at the 2011 awards.

New look to awards in special year for sport
A NEW-LOOK sports awards for Oldham is revealed today — exactly 100 days before we celebrate the arrival of the Olympic torch relay to the borough.

The One Future Oldham Sports Awards 2012 is a partnership between the influential Oldham Business Leadership Group, Oldham’s Integrated Youth Service and the Oldham Evening Chronicle.

And just five days after the historic Olympic torch comes through Oldham on June 24, our own sporting stars and unsung heroes will be honoured at a stunning awards ceremony on Friday, June 29 in the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

This is a real step-change for the awards and will see the profile of the borough’s sporting ach-ievers raised considerably in this an Olympics year.

“We really wanted to do something special with the awards for 2012 and by bringing everybody together this certainly helps us to deliver the wow factor for Oldham’s sports teams and individuals,” said Emma Jenks, assistant head of service at the Council’s IYS.

A steering group has been formed to get sponsorship from local businesses to make the awards event happen and OBLG member Jeremy Broadbent added: “One Future is all about making sure that Oldham sees a sporting and cultural legacy post-London 2012 and what better way than celebrating the very best that Oldham has to offer in the sporting arena.

“We have already had some fantastic offers of help from local companies — we are looking for more — and we shall be publicising our sponsorship partners in due course.”

And Chronicle Editor David Whaley said: “The Chronicle reports on hundreds of sporting achievements every week and we are delighted to add our support to the awards as they enhance the fantastic work done in promoting the borough by Pride in Oldham and the One Oldham Business Awards which are already huge successes.”

Nominations in the nine categories are now open and forms are available by emailing simon.tait@oldham.gov.uk or calling 0161 770 3051.

The nominees will be featured in the Oldham Chronicle in the coming weeks up to the closing date of April 30.

After that an independent panel of judges will choose three finalists who will be special guests at the awards night where they will be honoured for their achievements before a winner is announced.

The winners in seven categories go forward to represent Oldham in the Greater Manchester awards — the young volunteer* and contribution to school sport* awards are unique to Oldham.

These in turn provide entry into the North-West and national sports personality nominations.

Winners from the Oldham event will go forward to a gala dinner in Greater Manchester.

Don’t delay — get your nominations in today and help make June 29 a night of sporting celebration.


Want to sponsor the awards? — contact David Whaley on 0161 622 2109.

AWARD CATEGORIES
Sports Performer

Disabled Sports Performer

Sports Coach

Volunteer in Sport

Unsung Hero in Sport

Physical Activity Award

Club of the Year

Young Volunteer in Sport*

Contribution to School Sport*