Jim Xavier, Director of Youth Development and Sports announced last week that plans are progressing smoothly toward the staging of the 36th edition of the National Sports Awards.

T he awards recognize outstanding personalities and contributors to sports in Saint Lucia.

"This year's ceremony will be presented in three main categories. The  association awards will award individual sports personalities; the community awards recognize the movers and shakers of sports in the community; and the more prestigious awards recognize the cream of the crop of our sportsmen and sportswomen," Mr. Xavier said, adding that the Ministry of Youth and Sports held an internal screening process to ensure transparency and fairness in identifying shortlisted athletes.

"Additionally, some of the categories were reorganized and placed in the School Sports Awards in order to afford due recognition and prominence to school sports, and to ensure a shorter, more tightly-knit ceremony in the National Awards Program," he said.

Athletes were chosen from a total of 40 nominees. A total of six national associations made the short list: the Saint Lucia Athletics Association, the Saint Lucia Cricket Association; the Saint Lucia Boxing Association; the Saint Lucia Volleyball Association; the Saint Lucia Swimming Association; and the Saint Lucia Tennis Association.

The nominees are: sportswoman Yasmine St. Ange, junior sportsman Johnnel Eugene, and sportsman Johnson Charles from the Saint Lucia Cricket Association; sportsman Lyndell Marcellin from the  Saint Lucia Boxing Association;  Sportswoman of the Year, Skye Mondesir of the Saint Lucia Volleyball Association; junior sportswoman Katie Kyle, and sportsman Jordan Augier from the Saint Lucia Swimming Association; and junior sportswoman Meggan Dawn William, and junior sportsman Adriel Anthony Bousquet from the Saint Lucia Tennis Association.

The Saint Lucia Athletics Association opted to withhold the names of nominees due to internal awards.

Other awards to be distributed include coach, administrator, technical official, national association, and team of the year.

The ceremony will be held on Feb. 13, at 7 p.m.