AS we reach the closed season for sports from football to petanque, attention turns to finding out whose contributions to sporting excellence are to be recognised at this year’s Sports Awards of the Year, to be held on January 24, 2003.

Last year’s winners, shot-putter Helda Marie and Laser-class sailor Allan Julie, who each picked up R15, 000 in prize money, will be on hand to watch this year’s favourites lift the trophies, with some commentators expecting Julie to take the men’s award yet again.

The awards ceremony will once again be held at the SMB Exhibition Hall at Roche Caiman, and with the December 20 deadline for nominations fast approaching the vast majority of sports federations and associations are yet to submit their proposals and are reminded to do so quickly.

The only nomination form, currently with the selection committee, has been received from the Seychelles Petanque Association, who has nominated Sheila Sinon as its top female and Roland Renaud as its top male athlete.

Renaud took to the international stage, earlier this year, as part of the three-man team who represented Seychelles in the World Petanque Championship held in France.

Once all of the federations and associations have submitted their applications, competition is expected to be tight and deciding who to award first place to will be no easy task.

Mr Eric Arnephy, special advisor for sports in the Ministry of Local Government, Sports and Culture (MLGSC), who chairs the selection committee, is grateful for the assistance of his fellow committee members, Patrick Hoareau, Chantal Ghislain, Gerard Govinden, Jean Larue, Ronald Wong, Anne-Marie Bastienne, Michel Delorie, Alllain Alcindor and Wilfred Adrien.