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Press Releases
Nominate your 91Èȱ¬ Sports Unsung Hero
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The 91Èȱ¬ is set to honour individuals from the world of grassroots sport
with the 91Èȱ¬ Sports Unsung Hero Award 2007, launched today.
Across the UK everyone is invited to nominate people who have made a
difference to their community through sport.
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Now in its fifth year, the 91Èȱ¬ Sports Unsung Hero Award, supported by
Robinsons, recognises and rewards outstanding contribution by
individuals at the grassroots level of local sport.
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A local winner will be chosen in each 91Èȱ¬ English region and in Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
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They will be joining the sporting stars of
today in a glittering ceremony at Birmingham's NEC in December, where the
overall UK winner will be announced.
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So if you know someone in your area who goes an extra mile to change the
lives of others through sport and deserves recognition, we want to hear
from you.
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You can nominate people who, on a voluntary basis, prepare
facilities, roll the pitch, coach the juniors, run local sports leagues
or work behind the scenes so that sport can be played and enjoyed
throughout the UK.
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A shortlist of regional nominees in each area will be chosen by the local
91Èȱ¬ panel of judges.
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Those shortlisted nominees will be invited to
attend a regional 91Èȱ¬ Sports Awards event*, attended by a host of the
region's sports stars, when an overall regional winner will be announced.
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Bursaries of up to £2,500 are available to winners of each regional
award, to help them with their work in sport.
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These 15 regional winners will be joining the 91Èȱ¬ Sports Personality of
the Year Award ceremony at the NEC in Birmingham, where a UK winner will
be chosen.
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Pat Loughrey, 91Èȱ¬ Director of Nations and Regions, says: "The 91Èȱ¬ is
delighted to highlight the work and importance of so many people integral
to the sporting success and enjoyment of their communities across the UK – people who might otherwise go unrecognised."
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Jonathan Lee, Robinsons Sponsorship Manager, said: "Robinsons is proud
to support the Unsung Hero Award which celebrates the commitment of
people up and down the country who give something back to their community
through sport – encouraging children and adults to participate."
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Last year's overall winner was Val Hanover from Oswestry, who has worked
to organise events with North Shropshire Special Olympics Club since
1978. Val impressed the judges with her great commitment to people with
learning disabilities, firmly believing in the power of sport to enrich
lives.
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Nominations for the 91Èȱ¬ Sports Unsung Hero Award can be made at
bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero from Tuesday 28 August until Saturday 3
November 2007.
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The 2007 Awards, held for the second time at the NEC in Birmingham, will
be covered live on 91Èȱ¬ One on Sunday 9 December.
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Programme, ticket and
voting details will be announced nearer the time.
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Notes to Editors
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 * Local sports awards events are not held in London, Scotland and Northern
Ireland.
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Nominations are made via a form obtainable from the website
bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero. People are asked to detail the numbers
of years a nominee has been involved in that sport or organisation, the
amount of time given each week, what they do, and how it has improved
people's enjoyment of sport and life. We also ask what being involved
has meant to their local community.
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Robinsons are for the first time the overall sponsor of the 91Èȱ¬
Sports Unsung Hero award, and also event sponsor of the 91Èȱ¬'s Sports
Personality of the Year show.
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JW/91Èȱ¬ Birmingham Press Office
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