New Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Innovation Awards gets industry launch

The inaugural Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards have been launched by the organisers of the National Sports Convention with a simple aim - to recognise and celebrate the most innovative ways of encouraging more Australians to be active, whether that is through creative play opportunities, encouraging people to recreate or participate in sport.

Seven awards have been established with some of Australia’s peak bodies in the play, recreations and sports sectors.  Each award offers a cash prize, industry trophy and opportunities for recognition by industry peers.

The Award categories include:

1. Programs, Activities or Events – that have been developed to encourage the community to be more active in large numbers;

2. Sports Turf – innovative solutions that encourage greater intensity and durability of natural or synthetic sports fields in a manner that allows for greater usage;

3. Technological Solutions and Products – for the Business to Business or the Business to Consumer markets that encourage more people to play sport or be active;

4. Play Grounds – designs and developments that encourage more children to play, have fun and be active;

5. Young Innovator – a young person (under 25) who has developed a program, space, activity, technological solution or innovative partnership that is encouraging more people to be active;

6. Marketing and Communications – the packaging and communication of an opportunity in a manner that has encouraged more people to be active;

7. Facility Design and Development – innovative design and management that creates and environment where more people are active (built and natural environments); and

8. The Overall Sport, Recreation and Play Industry Award for Innovation – sponsored by leading sports surface innovators, FieldTurf, this award will provide the prize and trophy for the inaugural National Sports Convention Sport, Recreation and Play Innovations Award. The winner will be chosen from one the above seven winners.

The online application is free and, unlike other ‘industry’ awards, is open to all – not just members of industry associations.

A statement from the event organisers explains “the awards are the first truly Australian awards for the whole sector and will celebrate innovation in the sector.”

Each winner will receive a financial prize, and be submitted into the Overall Innovation Award which has a $5,000 first prize from Fieldturf Tarket.

Nominations close closes at 12pm on Friday 3rd June.

Click here for details on the criteria and entry.

The National Sports Convention has been developed by the play, recreation and sports sectors with an aim “to encourage more people to play, recreate and participate in sport together with what infrastructure facilities, programs, activities and technological solutions are needed to support more people being active.”

The National Sports Convention is being held at Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse on 23rd and 24th June.

Click here to view details of the National Sports Convention in the Australasian Leisure Management Industry Calendar.

10th April 2016 - GLOBAL AND LOCAL SPEAKERS TO CHART THE CHANGING FACE OF SPORT AND RECREATION

16th February 2016 - NEW AWARDS TO RECOGNISE INNOVATION IN SPORT, RECREATION AND PLAY

5th January 2016 - EXPANDED NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED FOR PARTICIPATION

5th December 2015 - AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION SURVEY AIMS TO DRIVE FUTURE SPORT AND RECREATION POLICY