The who’s who of Australian swimming will swap their Speedos for a night of glitz and glamour at the 2016 Swimming Australia Gala Dinner in Brisbane next month.
The night will recognize performance, passion, sportsmanship and dedication, highlighted at every level of the sport from the grass roots participation to the recreational swimmers across the nation and throughout the build up to and during this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The sport’s night of nights will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday, November 6, off the back of the three-day Hancock Prospecting Australian Short Course Swimming Championships.
The Gala Dinner will see three major awards presented to the Olympic Program, Paralympic Program and Open Water Swimmers of the Year recognised for their achievements in their respective disciplines.
There will now be no overall ‘Swimmer of the Year’ as in past years but rather recognition of three winners of the annual award.
Olympic and Paralympic champions alike will be recognised alongside the coaches, clubs, officials and the prestigious Swimmer’s Swimmer of the Year – an award voted on by members of the Dolphins squad.
Amongst other awards will also be the Speedo Golden Moment of the Year presented to an individual or team.
Swimming Australia CEO Mark Anderson said, “The Swimming Australia Gala Dinner is one of the most highly anticipated events on the calendar in a swimming season.
“It is a chance for swimmers, staff, coaches and invited guests to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of the year.
“In the past, the Swimmer of the Year Awards has recognised the different disciplines individually but also awarded an overall winner.
“For us it is not necessary to compare our swimmers across the disciplines but rather to celebrate each one equally. As a result we have removed the overall Swimmer of the Year Award and will celebrate our very best Olympic, Paralympic & Open Water Swimmers in their own category.
“Swimming is one of Australia’s most inclusive sports but we are always striving to do better and we want to continue to ensure our sport remains a leader for inclusive practise.”
The 2016 Swimming Australia Gala Dinner will feature the following awards:
Speedo Golden Moment
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Local Legend of the Year
Roger Smith Technical Official of the Year
Club of the Year
Swimmer’s Swimmer brought to you by Hancock Prospecting
Age Group Coach of the Year
Open Water Coach of the Year
Hancock Prospecting Paralympic Program Coach of the Year
Hancock Prospecting Olympic Program Coach of the Year
AIS Discovery of the Year
Open Water Swimmer of the Year
Paralympic Program Swimmer of the Year
Olympic Program Swimmer of the Year
The sport of swimming has such a rich history and Dolphins past and present have all helped to make the team what it is today, that’s why the night is also about recognising our 15 recently retired swimmers and their service to the sport and contribution to the team.
The Swimming Australia Gala Dinner will see red carpet arrivals from 6:30pm open to all media.
Press release courtesy of Swimming Australia.