On Sunday, November 13, the Department of Sports will be hosting the sixth annual Brown Pelican Awards Ceremony to honour local athletes and sport supporters, after a two-year hiatus. Through various awards, the event will highlight people and organizations who have had an impact on sports on the island. The location and time are still to be announced, but make sure to save the date and come out to support our local heroes!
The first Brown Pelican Awards Ceremony was held in 2015. After the first event, Department of Sports head Jonelle Richardson said, “Our aim was to make this an annual event that everyone involved with sports on St. Maarten could look forward to. We encourage the various organisations to look out for our email next year in order to submit their selections and to come out to celebrate with us again the best of St. Maarten sports.”
This year’s event is a continuation of that goal by celebrating anyone currently involved in our local sports community, from athletes to coaches to sporting organisations.
Until October 5, local sports organisations can submit potential nominees in 10 categories, including Best overall, Best sponsor, Best coach, International ambassadors, Best sport organisation, Sporting innovations, Athlete of the year (male), Athlete of the year (female), Best sporting school and Sporting icons.
Last year, SXM-U15 Football selection won the prize for the Best Overall Team, while Football Coach Guidarie Burton won Best Coach. Nagico was selected as Best Sponsor and MAC High boasted Best Sporting School. The Male Athlete of the Year was Omar Marsham (Muay Thai Kickboxing) and the Female Athlete of the Year was Maudienne Profas (Body Building & Fitness). St. Maarten Football Association won International Ambassador and Best Sport Organisation and St. Maarten Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was crowned as best Sporting Innovation. Last, but not least, Ronald Jacobs (Little League Baseball) was honoured as Sport Icon.
In addition to the general prizes, the ceremony honours legends within a specific sport. Every year, a different local sport is highlighted. The first awards ceremony paid tribute to baseball heroes. A year later, local boxing legends were celebrated. In 2019, the pioneers within the cricket community were celebrated – and in 2021, volleyball legends were honoured through a virtual event.
This year, the Brown Pelican Sports Awards will pay homage to the local legends who have contributed greatly to the development of basketball on the island. These legends will be revealed during the ceremony.
