District sports awards at risk

The future of Matamata-Piako Sports Awards could be at risk if nominations continue to decline.

The district sports awards online nominations are now open, until September 28.

The awards will take place in November.

Matamata-Piako Sport Waikato co-ordinator Lou Beer says nominations have been declining over the past five years.

She says if it continues, there may no longer be a dedicated district sports award event.

’’Sports awards will always happen, but they may not be as local. We may see them combine with another district, meaning less local opportunity for our sports people to be recognised.’’

She is disappointed by the declining numbers as she knows there are still people working hard to keep sports alive in the district.

‘‘They need to be recognised, because sport is at the heart of our community and volunteers are at the heart of sport.

‘‘It’s disappointing because I know the volunteers are still there and have been working as hard as ever.

‘‘Their contribution is just not being recognised as this level.’’

Categories include sports person, coach, junior sports man and woman, official, administrator and service to sport.

Nominations can be made online at sportwaikato.org.nz/ awards.