The Volunteer in Sport Awards are back for 2019!
The Federation of Irish Sport, with the support of EBS, are delighted to reintroduce the Volunteers in Sports Awards which recognise the 450,000 volunteers who deliver sport in Ireland each week. This year, nominations will be accepted on a 32 county basis with an overall winner from each county being honoured at the ceremony on November 12th. Get nominating your volunteer or team of volunteers now!
Supported by EBS and The Federation of Irish Sport
2019 is the year of the come back!
The Federation of Irish Sport are delighted to announce that the Volunteers in Sport Awards supported by EBS will be returning on 12th November 2019. The awards, which were last held in 2014, celebrate all that is good about the some 450,000 volunteers delivering sport in Ireland week in week out. First held in 2007, the awards recognise coaches, managers, officials and administrators who give of their time to grow and develop amateur sports.
Speaking about the reintroduction of the awards, Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Brendan Griffin said: “It is important to remember that every Irish athlete currently representing their club, county or even country is a result of the hours of passion, dedication and effort that volunteers afforded them each week as they developed as players and athletes. The unparalleled commitment given by these people must be recognised and celebrated. I am delighted to launch these Volunteer in Sport Awards and I urge members of the public to nominate an individual whose contribution to sport has made a real difference in their community, whether that is a coach, manager, official or administrator. These unsung heroes deserve to be celebrated and congratulated publicly.”
Recognise
The commitment, dedication and leadership of Ireland’s sporting volunteers, found to be in the region of 450,000 people, allow athletes and communities to participate in sport all around the country. It is estimated that over a million hours are put into sport on a weekly basis by adults volunteering in sport.
Clubs, communities and members of the public are invited to nominate an individual or team of volunteers whose contribution to their sport has made a real difference and to provide details on the person nominated. An overall winner from each county will be selected as well as one national “team of volunteers” award. A Lifetime award to honour a volunteer, who has consistently given of their time for a sport, a team, or an event over many years, will also be awarded at the ceremony in November.
Nominate
Speaking about the awards, Federation of Irish Sport CEO Mary O’Connor said “Sport plays a central role in the social fabric of every county, constituency and parish in the country. Sport represents the largest single source of volunteering in Ireland, with over 450,000 people volunteering in sport each week, in the 14,000 sports clubs and associations in Ireland who encompass 1.7 million members. The value of volunteering in sport in Ireland is unimaginable, with an estimated 37.2 million hours of unpaid voluntary work performed every year. It is these people that make sport happen in Ireland, and it is essential they are recognised, and indeed funded to ensure that sporting tradition grows even further on a national and international footing”
Previous winners include Liam Sheedy, who managed Tipperary to All Ireland Senior success in 2010, Oliver O’Neill, youth coach and father of Olympic Boxer Darren O’Neill and Dublin City Marathon organiser Jim Aughney.
The Federation of Irish Sport are delighted to have the support of EBS on this venture and together we look forward to rewarding and recognising those who work so tirelessly to deliver sport and physical activity for the nation.