New scheme to award sports clubs’ volunteers

A NEW national awards scheme honouring those who volunteer their time in sustaining and developing sport in Ireland got off the ground yesterday when Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O’Donoghue launched the official nomination form and guidelines for the ‘National Awards to Volunteers in Irish Sport’.

The Awards will honour eight individuals who are representative of the 400,000 people who volunteer their time and effort to sport in Ireland each year through their involvement with sports clubs and organisations the length and breadth of the country.

Minister O’Donoghue called on sports organisations throughout the country to submit nominations for the Awards, expressing his hope that the new scheme will raise the profile of volunteers whom he described as the “lifeblood of sport in Ireland”.

“Every club and sports organisation knows a volunteer who goes that extra mile in giving of their time and effort,” said Minister O’Donoghue.

“I am urging those clubs and organisations to nominate those exceptional individuals and to take note of the Awards and the fact that nomination forms are now available,” he said.

Minister O’Donoghue thanked the Irish Sports Council for their assistance in organising the scheme as well as the National Governing Bodies of Sport, and Local Sports Partnerships and VEC Sports Committees who will facilitate in the nominating and assessment process.

Nomination forms are now available from the National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships and VEC Sport Committees. They are also available on the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism website www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie and the Irish Sports Council’s website www.irishsportscouncil.ie .

Nomination forms should be completed and returned to relevant National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) or VEC Sports Committees (where an LSP has yet to be established) by close of business on Friday, 29 September 2006.

A Selection Committee will be established to chose the eight volunteers who will be honoured at a special awards ceremony due to take place in Farmleigh on 25 January 2007.