RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE IN SPORTS
The RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation honours YEARLY outstanding achievement in sport by Jamaican athletes, by nominating a maximum of ten (10) athletes both males and females to be considered. By applying the selection criteria enunciated below, the Foundation then selects those whose exploits have been deemed the most worthy, and announces its choice for the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, and their respective Runners-up.

In addition, each year, the Foundation may award Certificates of Merit to persons or organisations who have “contributed significantly to the advancement, promotion and support (financial or otherwise) of a sport (or sports) outside of the area of physical participation as a competitor.”The Foundation may also recognise excellence by a Jamaican athlete in a sporting discipline for Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year by offering Category Awards in those disciplines.

At its discretion the Foundation may also choose to recognise outstanding achievement by a National team through the provision of Special Team Awards at either, or both, the Senior and Junior levels. The Foundation, at its discretion, may also chose to recognise outstanding achievement by individuals through the provision of Special Awards at either, or both, the Senior and Junior levels.

In the nomination and selection of awardees in all of the above categories, the principal characteristic of the performances and achievements being recognised shall be excellence. The Foundation is committed to the recognition of excellence, and this shall be the overriding guide governing the deliberations of its Selection Committee.

ELIGIBILITY FOR NOMINATION- Sportsman and Sports Woman of the Year
The following general criteria will be applied in determining the eligibility of persons being nominated in the categories of Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year:

•The nominee must be a Jamaican national, or have represented Jamaica in an internationally recognised sporting competition.
•The nominee may be either a professional or an amateur
•None of the following shall prejudice the nominee:
Race
Colour
Creed
Class
Political Persuasion
•The nominee must not have engaged in any behaviour or conduct which in the opinion of the Foundation has brought their sport into disrepute.

COLLECTION OF PERFORMANCE DATA
Performance data is collected throughout the review period (January 1 to December 31 each year), and forwarded to the members of the Selection Committee made up accordingly: -.

A four (4) member Selection Committee comprised of three (3) Directors of the Sports Foundation, including a Chairman appointed by the Chairman of the Board of the Sports Foundation and, two (2) other Directors selected by the Sports Foundation, at the beginning of the review period, and up to three persons but no less than one person appointed to the Selection Committee by the Foundation Board of Directors from outside of their directorship, selected at the beginning of the review period.

It shall be the responsibility of this Selection Committee, in collaboration with the RJRGLEANER Sports Department, to prepare reports on the activity of Jamaican athletes competing locally and internationally, and to submit these reports to the Directors of the Sports Foundation on at least a bi-monthly basis, throughout the review period. Achievements deemed worthy of inclusion in these periodic reports may come from any generally recognised sporting discipline. In respect of achievement in the field of sport, outside of physical participation as a competitor, it shall also be within the purview of this Selection Committee to make reports on achievements by Jamaicans which fall into this category.

RECOMMENDATION OF NOMINEES
In submitting its penultimate bi-monthly report, the Selection Committee shall submit also, their recommendation regarding nominees in the categories of Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, as well as recommendations regarding recipients of Certificates of Merit, Category Awards and Team Awards.

The Foundation reserves the right to add or subtract from any list of nominees agreed on following the submission of this report, as a result of circumstances which may arise in the final two months of the review period, which would materially affect the nomination process. In making their recommendations, the Selection Committee, through its Chairman, must be prepared to offer reasons and advance arguments to support these recommendations.

ORDER OF RECOGNITION
With the clearly understood provision that any exceptionally brilliant performance, which satisfies all of the conditions for competition, stipulated by the governing world body of the sport concerned will be given due appraisal and consideration, the following levels of competition shall take precedence, one over the other, in descending order:

Level One
Distinguished achievement or honour earned at the level of the Olympic Games or at the level of any recognised World Championships, which can be a comparison to the Olympic Games, or to competitors who have achieved a record world standard in their sport or event during the review period.

Level Two
Distinguished achievement or honour earned at the Commonwealth or Pan American level in their sport during the review period.

Level Three
Distinguished achievement or honour earned at the Central American and Caribbean level in their sport during the review period.

Level Four
Distinguished achievement or honour earned at the local level in their sport during the review period.

ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES
Physically and mentally challenged athletes who participate in restricted competition because of their disabilities shall not be eligible for the conventional Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, but the Foundation may, in its sole discretion, offer special awards in these categories. Notwithstanding, the above, a disabled athlete who distinguishes themselves, or earns honour in open competition, shall be eligible for nomination for Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year.

AGE-GROUP COMPETITORS
Age-group athletes, who distinguish themselves in competition which is restricted as to age, shall not be eligible for the conventional Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, but the Foundation may, in its sole discretion, offer special awards in these categories. Notwithstanding, the above, junior athletes who distinguish themselves, or earn honour in open competition, shall be eligible for nomination for Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year.

CERTIFICATES OF MERIT
The Certificates of Merit to be awarded each year, should be limited to five (5), but the Foundation reserves the right to increase this number in any year of exceptional activity and/or merit. Only those persons who have rendered service, or achieved over and beyond what would normally be expected of the holder of their office, shall be considered.
Members of the Sports Foundation who satisfy the criteria for consideration for Certificates of Merit should not be disqualified solely on the basis of their membership in the Foundation.

CATEGORY AWARDS
In keeping with its mandate of “Recognising Excellence in Sports”, the Foundation shall encourage all governing bodies for sport in Jamaica to submit for its consideration a list of achievements by athletes in their respective sports. The Foundation may then, at its sole discretion, determine the suitability of those nominated by their governing body for Category Awards. As of 2014, the Foundation introduced Category Awards for male and female participants in Mind Games. In this category, consideration shall be given to achievements in bridge and chess. Nominees achieve qualification for consideration in recognised events of the International Mind Sports Association (IMSA).

SPECIAL TEAM AWARDS
Team Awards may be offered by the Sports Foundation, at its sole discretion, to representative National teams who have achieved excellence in international, regional or local competition during the review period.

ICONIC AWARDS
The Sports Foundation shall each year, identify and recognise a Jamaican athlete, administrator, coach or sporting aficionado who has brought fame or positive recognition on an international stage to Jamaica or Jamaican sports at the highest level of endeavour. The award should not be made posthumously and must be received by the recipient, barring incapacitation. The Board of the Foundation shall consider candidates and make an announcement for the first time on the evening of the awards event.

THE VMBS Y.O.U.T.H AWARD
Acronym for – Young Outstanding Upcoming Talented Headliner.

With the kind sponsorship of VMBS, each year the Foundation identifies and recognises a Jamaican Junior athlete between the ages of 16-20 years who has display outstanding talent or noteworthy skill in a discipline, whether on a local or international stage. The criteria are:

1.The recipient must be a new, upcoming junior class athlete receiving positive recognition for his/her talent above and beyond their peers over the course of the selection period (year) or outstanding contribution to the sport at the highest level of endeavour.

2.The award can be/should not be made posthumously and can be collected by a representative /must be received by the recipient, barring incapacitation.

3.The Board of the Foundation shall consider candidates and announce the awardee for the first time on the evening of the gala awards event.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
The Chairman’s Award is presented annually, of the Chairman, to a person or persons, who have achieved excellence by participation in or service to sport, whether during the review period or over a sustained period of time.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
No more than twice every decade, the Sports Foundation shall consider a body of work over the career of an athlete and make a Lifetime Achievement Award to the person.
The receipt of any other award from the Foundation shall not be a deterrent from eligibility for this award. The award shall be presented to a person who has represented Jamaica with excellence and accomplishments at the highest levels. The achievements of the recipient should be beyond national boundaries.

SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORTSMAN AND SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The Sports Foundation will consider, and if thought fit award a male and a female student (in each of the sports of athletics, football, cricket and netball) for outstanding performances in school sports which may or may not include competitions regionally and internationally. The Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) shall forward their nominated candidates to the Selection Committee, along with their ranking of the candidates and a summary of their achievements. The Selection Committee will determine in its sole discretion the persons to be awarded.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AWARD

In recognition of growing interactivity in the Information Age, this mechanism is used to encourage viewer, reader and listener participation.

Each year an award is made in this category based solely on the voting received (audio or text) on the specially created voting platforms.
This award allows ordinary people the opportunity to vote for their most magical moments drawn from sporting action during the period under review. Nominees usually are between 5 to 7 sporting performances and are chosen by the Selection Committee. The final winner is decided by the public vote and hence this is not a matter on which the Selection Committee adjudicates.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Thelecia Patrickson is your Administration Personnel for the Sports Foundation. Do not hesitate to contact her at (876)564-1380 or by email at thelecia.patrickson@rjrgleanergroup.com ; rjrgleanersportsfoundation@rjrgleanergroup.com when you are in need of her assistance.

Please see link below to download nomination form: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/upxh31b1czlsvinnljj4d/Nomination-Form-2019.docx?dl=0&rlkey=7ghhcr3s5ps20ne44nfs2urjl