Jamaican sprint marvel Usain Bolt
has captured one of the top honours at the 29th annual Commonwealth Sports
Awards, despite not participating at the Games last month in Delhi.
The 24-year-old, the reigning
Olympic and world champion, won the Outstanding Male Athlete accolade at the
awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England
on Saturday. The Commonwealth Sports Awards celebrated 30 years this year.
Founded by Jamaican-born Londoner Al Hamilton, he has staged the event in many
Commonwealth countries.
British heptathlete Jessica Ennis,
the current world and European champion, won the Outstanding Female Athlete
award. Bolt and Ennis were among several elite athletes who opted out of the
Commonwealth Games. Neither athlete was present at the ceremony.
Mike Fennell, the Commonwealth
Games Federation chief, said it was crucial the organisation continued to
recognise the accomplishments of competitors. “I am delighted to participate in
this special awards dinner at the Commonwealth Games Sports Awards for 2010,”
Fennell said.
“Congratulations to all the
awardees for this year. It is so important that we recognise the achievements
of our Commonwealth athletes and there is so much to be proud of.
“Last month we witnessed the very
successful staging of the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India and once
again the world saw athletes in 17 sports from 71 countries and territories
including Para athletes. We now eagerly anticipate the 20th Commonwealth Games
in Glasgow in 2014.”
Veteran Jamaican sports journalist,
Tony Becca, of the Jamaican Gleaner won the newly introduced Outstanding Sports
Writer prize, sharing the award with the Sunday Times’ Nick Pitt.
There was no such luck for
long-standing Jamaican netball administrator Molly Rhone, who lost out to New
Zealand squash icon Susie Simcock for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement
award.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Delhi
gold-winning men’s hockey team walked away with the Most Outstanding Team
prize, while New Zealand’s cyclist Sam Webster captured the Outstanding Young
Achiever award.
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