The search for New Zealand’s most talented young sports people is underway with the launch of the 2011 ASICS Sports Awards, giving year 7 and 8 students the chance to win the ultimate prize - an annual elite athlete sponsorship package.
Students who have achieved outstanding results or who have defied the odds to achieve sporting success intermediate school are eligible to be nominated for the ASICS Sports Award.
The awards will be judged at the end of each school term, across five regions throughout New Zealand, with the term one nominations closing on 15 April. Every term a winner from each region will be announced, with all regional winners then eligible for the supreme award which will be judged and announced at the end of the year.
Regional winners will receive ASICS gear both for themselves and their schools, while the Supreme 2011 ASICS Sports Award winner will be invited to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ross Taylor, Casey Williams and Isaia Toeava as a sponsored elite ASICS athlete.
The awards, which are now in their second year, were started by ASICS to encourage young New Zealanders to get active and strive to achieve their sporting goals says ASICS' Jenny Holdaway.
"We have chosen to focus on intermediate level (year 7 and 8 students) as we acknowledge that there are numerous sporting awards out there for secondary school students, but very few for intermediate age students, who are at a crucial stage in terms of setting foundations for their sporting future," says Ms Holdaway.
Students can be nominated by their teachers, coaches, parents, peers or local sporting coordinator or club. Nominations can be made online at www.asicssportsaward.co.nz.
"We're thrilled to recognise the achievements of our young athletes but we need to receive the all-important nominations to help ensure we're rewarding New Zealand's best young sporting talent," says Ms Holdaway.
