By DALCY LULUA
THE selection panel for the 2026 SP Sports Awards has confirmed a significant rise in nominations, with a total of 261 submissions recognizing achievements from the 2025 sporting year.
Chairman of the selection panel, Warwick Vele, said this year’s response marks a notable increase from 210 nominations received last year, highlighting growing awareness, participation, and confidence in the credibility of the awards.
Of the 261 nominations, 181 were submitted online while 80 were received in hard copy. Vele said the shift toward online submissions reflects increasing trust in the awards process and stronger engagement across the sporting community.
“This growth shows the continued awareness of the Sports Awards and confidence in their integrity as a platform to recognize sporting excellence in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
One of the most competitive categories was the Coca-Cola Junior Sports Female of the Year, which attracted strong interest across multiple sports. The category received nominations from athletics including AFL, swimming, darts, and weightlifting, among others.
Vele said the breadth of nominations highlights the expanding depth of female sporting talent in the country and growing recognition of women’s contributions to sport at all levels.
He also highlighted the Community Sports Initiative Award as a particularly meaningful category, noting its focus on individuals and groups working at grassroots level.
“This category recognizes people who use sport as a tool for social development, peace building, and community engagement. It often shines a light on contributions that go unrecognized, but are vital to developing our communities,” he said.
Vele emphasized that the selection process is guided by strict criteria, with all nominations assessed against category-specific requirements. He stressed the importance of supporting documentation to ensure proper verification.
The selection panel includes representatives from sports administration, athlete development, and governance, all working with objectivity and professionalism. Final decisions consider performance, results, sportsmanship, leadership, consistency, and overall impact both on and off the field.
Vele acknowledged that narrowing down finalists was particularly difficult due to the high quality and volume of nominations. He noted that athletes, teams, coaches, officials, and volunteers across both domestic and international competitions were considered.
“Unfortunately, we can only select three finalists per category, and many worthy candidates could not be included,” he said, adding that the panel is exploring ways to better recognize broader contributions in future editions.
He also confirmed that once selections are completed, the process is independently audited to ensure transparency and compliance with the set criteria.
Vele encouraged continued nominations, stating that all entries help showcase the growing depth and impact of sport across Papua New Guinea, from elite athletes to grassroots contributors.