The Leeds Sports Awards will be back as a live event taking place at New Dock Hall on Thursday 12th May. Hosted by the BBC’s Tanya Arnold and Jamie Jones-Buchanan, this prestigious event will celebrate the sporting heroes of 2021 and also look forward to the fantastic sport the city will be hosting this year.
The annual awards will celebrate the sporting achievements of athletes, Coaches, administrators and volunteers, of all levels of sport, from across the city of Leeds in front of an expected audience in excess of 600 people.
A total of 17 awards will be up for grabs, including an Inspiring Community Champion award and culminating in the prestigious Sporting Pride of Leeds Award sponsored by Channel 4. Previous winners of this award include the Rhinos for their treble winning season, Nicola Adams OBE, Josh Warrington and last year’s winner Kevin Sinfield OBE.
Peter Smith MBE chair of Sport Leeds said “With amazing medal-winning performances from our Leeds athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, a top ten finish by Leeds United and the great resilience and community spirit shown by the city’s sports clubs and players, 2021 was certainly a great year of sport in spite of the challenges of the pandemic.
Sport Leeds are proud to be organising the Leeds Sports Awards 2022 to enable everyone to be able to nominate their particular Leeds sporting hero or heroine from 2021. Whether that be a medallist, their favourite team, their local community superstar, an inspirational sports teacher or a long-serving volunteer or official at their club, these awards will give everyone the chance to celebrate a great year of sport in Leeds”
Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for public health & active lifestyles, said:“Sport is part of the fabric of our city, from Olympic and Paralympic success to grassroots participation, the power of sport brings our diverse city together.
“We have seen incredible successes over the last year not only on the pitch but also off it as clubs of all sizes have gone above and beyond to support their local community. I am really looking forward to being able to celebrate Leeds’ sporting heroes from the last year and to look back on some of the city’s great moments”
Looking forward to 2022, Leeds once again hosts global sport with the 2022 World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds, International Cricket and 8 Rugby League World Cup games. The city also hosts the British Transplant Games, and the awards ceremony will use this opportunity to look forward to such an exciting sporting year ahead.
Sponsors for the 2022 event include Leeds City Council, University of Leeds and Yorkshire Sport Foundation.
Nominations are now OPEN for 16 categories to celebrate the achievements of your favourite sporting stars, teams and community heroes.
You can nominate them now and find out more information about the Leeds Sports Awards 202 at www.leedssportsawards.co.uk.
Closing date for nominations is midnight on Sunday 3rd April.