Inspiring Future Talent: Do You Know A Staffordshire Olympian In The Making?

So, that’s it. The Olympics is over for another four years (although we can’t wait for the Paralympics to get started) – and once again this unique sporting spectacle has lived up to its name as ‘the greatest show on earth’.

We’ve seen tears, triumphs and tantrums; stars have been born and legends have been made; records broken, personal battles overcome and age-old rivalries reignited. Sport has quite literally changed lives for the better – just ask any of the Refugee Olympic Team.

Of course, all of the above can apply as much to the sports clubs across Staffordshire as it did to the multi-million pound sporting venues of Rio. You don’t have to be an elite Olympian to enjoy sport, show dedication to your game or to stand out from the crowd – and that is exactly why the SASSOT Sports Awards were created, celebrating grassroots sport in our region. Don’t forget, winners will be nominated by an esteemed panel of judges to be given a ‘golden ticket’ into the West Midlands Community Sports Awards, held at Villa Park.

While the likes of Adam Peaty, Joe Clarke were doing Staffordshire and the nation – proud over in Brazil, we know that thousands of others were doing themselves proud back on home turf. And this includes a whole generation of aspiring sports stars who hope to follow in the footsteps of their Team GB heroes, inspired by another record-breaking 67 medal haul.

Through the Aspiring Talent Award, sponsored by University of Birmingham Sport (UBSport), we want to recognise young sportsmen and women (including disability athletes/players) from across the region that have excelled in their chosen sport and shown themselves to be a positive role model for others.

Whether they have achieved success at regional, national or international level, we need you to nominate the stars of tomorrow. So if you know the next superstar then make sure you nominate them for the Aspiring Talent Award in the SASSOT Sports Awards. The winner will go up against winners from other West Midlands County Sports Partnership Awards in the West Midlands Community Sports Awards at Villa Park on November 30th.

To nominate, simply head to SASSOT Sport Awards.

West Midlands Community Sports Awards

The West Midlands Community Sports Awards (WMCSA) is run by six County Sports Partnerships to celebrate the power of sport in local communities.

Inspired by London 2012, each of the CSPs (Black Country BeActive Partnership; Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Sport; Energize Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin; Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent; Sport Birmingham; and Sports Partnership Herefordshire & Worcestershire) runs individual awards based on nominations from the local community.

Winners are selected locally and given a ‘golden ticket’ into the WMCSA, which will be held on 30 November at Villa Park and hosted by Nick Owen and Mary Rhodes from BBC Midlands Today.

The event is supported by category sponsors Sports Structures, Open College Network WM and University of Birmingham 360 Sport & Fitness, as well as Citydesk Sport.

Categories include:

·         Coach of the Year

·         Community Club of the Year

·         Community Project of the Year

·         Aspiring Talent

·         BBC Local Radio Power of Sport Award

·         BBC Unsung Hero Award (winner is put forward for national award at BBC Sports Personality of the Year)

·         BBC Midlands Sporting Hall of Fame (previous winners include Sir Stanley Matthews, Dennis Amiss, Anne Jones, Gordon Banks, Tom Graveney, Bob Matthews, Hugh Porter, the Aston Villa European Cup winning team, Tommy Godwin, Dave Moorcroft, Kash “the Flash” Gill and Richie Woodall)

For more information contact

Naomi Bird
Knowledge, Communications & Equalities Manager
T: 01785 619585
E: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk