Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Active Suffolk has announced a change to the scheduled Suffolk Sports Awards, which was planned to take place later this year. The annual event was due to go ahead on Friday 13^th November at Milsoms, Kesgrave Hall but will now take place on Friday 19^th November 2021. Despite the postponement, the Active Suffolk team will be taking this opportunity to replace the prestigious award ceremony with a county-wide campaign, which will give thanks and celebrate the dedication, successes and triumphs of our sport and physical activity providers, workers and volunteers.

The annual event celebrates the sporting achievements of individuals, clubs and schools in Suffolk that have excelled in their sport or within the physical activity sector. Last year's event saw an array of sportsmen and women who had achieved tremendous accolades throughout 2019. This included Andrea Thomspon who walked away with the Sports Personality of the Year Award after claiming the title for World's Strongest Woman at the end of 2018. We also saw Red Oak Primary School in Lowestoft walk away with the Primary School PE and Sport Impact Award, after the introduction of pedal bike desks and the launch of the Active Learning Trust Sports Leagues.

The decision to cancel this year's event reflects the current hiatus across community sport, however, Active Suffolk will be working to drive a campaign in September which will celebrate sport and physical activity providers, volunteers and organisations that have worked tirelessly to support people in Suffolk to be active during the coronavirus pandemic.

John Clough, Director of Active Suffolk says:

"The Suffolk Sports Awards ceremony has been a firm fixture in the event calendar for many years and the evening is thoroughly enjoyed by everyone that attends, however, given the current challenges being faced we recognise that a different type of celebration is more appropriate this year. The efforts of those working across the sector during the current pandemic is amazing and we hope to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has supported our county to stay active during what is an extraordinary time"

Active Suffolk will be launching its campaign to celebrate local sporting heroes in July, where the county will be asked to nominate individuals and organisations to receive recognition for their selflessness during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The latest research and figures from Sport England suggest that on average 21% of those who were physically active during the first 6 weeks of lockdown, participated in online activity from home. The leading physical activity providers and instructors across the county have been very quick to adapt to the current climate, providing local people with a variety of options despite the closure of gyms and leisure facilities. Active Suffolk's campaign will be dedicated to acknowledging the efforts made during this time and will give thanks to those that have given so much to support our county to be physically active.

Active Suffolk will be continuing to work with BBC Radio Suffolk to launch the campaign. Graeme Mac and Stephen Foster have been a big part of the Suffolk Sports Awards over many years, where their knowledge of sport in Suffolk and expertise in compering have been integral to the event's ongoing success.

Following the announcement, Graeme Mac from BBC Radio Suffolk said:

"It has been a privilege to be involved with the Suffolk Sports Awards over recent years.

They bring so many people who do wonders for sport in the county together, and highlight some outstanding achievements.

While we can't get together under the same roof this year, we can still celebrate, and we will!"

Further announcements regarding the forthcoming campaign from Active Suffolk will be released in the next month at www.activesuffolk.org