Media Release

April 8, 2003 --- Manitoba's Best in Amateur Sport to be Honoured

The achievements of the province's best youth athletes and the contributions of outstanding sport volunteers, officials and administrators, will highlight Sport Manitoba's 18th Annual Sport Awards this Friday night.

The theme of this year's awards is "The Art of Sport" with the celebratory event to take place at the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Muriel Richardson Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Sport Manitoba President & CEO Jeff Hnatiuk will be joined by the Honourable Eric Robinson, Minister responsible for Sport in presenting the awards. The evening will also feature a presentation by John Furlong, President & COO of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Corporation.

Ten male and ten female nominees will attempt to join the likes of previous winners Shannon Rempel, Clara Hughes, Kirby Cote, Rob McMillan and Trevor Kidd as Manitoba's Male and Female Youth Athletes of the Year based on their accomplishments in 2002.

Sport Manitoba is also pleased to announce four new awards this year. In addition to its presentation of the Volunteer of the Year, Great-West Life will recognize a Youth Volunteer of the Year. The other new awards include Junior Team of the Year, Official of the Year and Sport Administrator of the Year. The Manitoba Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Council will present the Tom Longboat Award to the province's top male and female Aboriginal athletes as part of the recognition evening.

Sport Manitoba's Male and Female Youth Athletes will each receive a $300 scholarship from Sport Manitoba. All other award recipients will receive a commemorative gift. A Selection Committee consisting of a cross section of Manitoba's electronic and print media determines the winners.

The public is invited to attend Friday's awards presentation and reception. Tickets are $10.00 and can be reserved by calling Sport Manitoba at 925-5907.

This page was last updated on April 8, 2003