The OCS Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards, in partnership with SportsAid, will be held to celebrate and support the future of British sporting talent on Tuesday 1st November 2016 at GLA, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2AA*.
The latest awards ceremony, hosted by BBC Sport Commentator, and attended by sporting personalities from across a range of sports, will reward 13 budding athletes, many of whom have their heart set on Tokyo. At the awards event, an overall winner will be selected by audience vote from the fantastic young regional winners**.
In Rio,13 former OCS Young Sportsperson Awards finalists took part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, bringing back three gold medals in disability swimming events and one in the 470 sailing event; two silver medals in swimming and one in gymnastics; and one bronze medal in paraswimming. Last year’s 2015 Young Sportsperson Award overall winner, Polly Maton, was selected to compete in the Paralympic 100 metres and long jump. Third time Olympian Louis Smith MBE, also a Young Sportsperson Awards winner, brought home another silver medal in this year’s pommel horse event. Other athletes supported by OCS include Beth Tweddle. After London 2012, Tweddle told OCS that: "To have received such an award during the early stages enabled me to...fulfil my short term goals on the way to the long time dream of becoming an Olympic medalist."
Tim Lawler, chief executive of SportsAid said: “What an amazing year 2016 has been to celebrate our pride and passion in British sport. Success like that doesn’t just happen – it takes incredible commitment and dedication and a little bit of help along the way. The OCS Young Sportsperson Awards provides some of that help, making a telling contribution for young athletes, enabling them to step up to their personal best. OCS is a fantastic partner to SportsAid and we are very proud to be working with them to help direct this help and support as effectively as possible.”
Since 1998, OCS has made sports bursaries of almost £600,000 to more than 249 rising sporting stars through its Young Sportsperson Awards. The athletes are typically aged 9 to 13, when they rely on the bank of Mum and Dad to fund travel and accommodation costs, before they are supported by commercial sponsorship. Offering independent recognition and financial assistance at the start of their journey when, more often than not, parents and guardians are the solitary sponsor, makes a huge difference.
With grassroots sports clubs and charities fighting for funds, and with a decline in families being able to afford to send their children to after school clubs, schemes such as the OCS Young Sportsperson Awards are vital to help our next generation of athletes to success at Tokyo and beyond, and to continue the Olympic legacy achieved in Rio.
Follow the OCS Young Sportsperson Awards on Twitter: @OCSYSP and Facebook @OCSYOUNGSPORTSPERSON
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Notes to editors:
* Journalists are welcome to attend the OCS Young Sportsperson awards event. The drinks reception starting at 4.45pm and the Awards ceremony at 6pm. Email Thomas.parker@magentaassociates.co.uk or call Tom on 07952 060286. Interviews are available with sports personalities, the OCS Young Sportsperson Awards winners, and senior representatives from OCS and SportsAid.
** Channel Islands
Robbie Legg – football, 17 years - Robbie has made 24 appearances for Guernsey FC competing in the Ryman League as the youngest player in Guernsey’s history. In addition, he is also the youngest ever goal scorer and the youngest player to appear in the FA Cup in the Channel Islands. The promising player had trials at Fulham and Brighton when he was aged 13 and 15 and scored86 goals in one season.
Scotland and Ireland
Ewan McAteer - gymnast, 17 years, from Lisburn - In 2015 Ewan won a silver medal at the All-around Irish Championships and competed for Ireland in the European Youth Olympic Festival. In March of this year Ewan won a bronze medal at the British Gymnastics Senior Championships.
Conn Nagle - wheelchair basketball, 15 years, from Belfast - Conn’s parents first took him to a disability sports event at the age of six. These days, His week is a mix of high performance basketball and junior and senior club training, as well as taking part in the Disability Sport NI Coaches Programme, competitions and leagues.
Caitlyn Aiken – archery, 12 years, from Peterhead - In 2015 Caitlyn competed in the U12 British Junior Outdoor Championships, the Scottish AA Junior Indoor Championships and the Scottish AA Junior Outdoor Championships, coming first in all three events. Caitlyn also came fourth in the U12 Junior UK Masters.
Central and North
Leah Moorby – athlete, 17 years, from Keighley - Leah has always been active, admiring people like Jackie Chan and wanting to reproduce his kicks. Her dad therefore took her along to a local club where she began her taekwondo career. During a typical week Leah will do strength and conditioning sessions, taekwondo sessions with her club and at the weekend either competition or training with the GB Junior squad
Amelia Cass – para cycling, 17 years, from Sheffield - Amelia first got involved in cycling when her degenerative condition made it increasingly difficult to walk to school. Following her participation in the British Cycling talent programme, she started to demonstrate potential. During a typical week Amelia will undertake a mixture of turbo and strength sessions along with up to seven hours of road rides.
Zak Perzamanos – trampolining, 13 years, from Liverpool - Zak first started trampolining in his garden, subsequently joining a local club in school before joining Springers trampoline club. He currently trains five days and enjoys the excitement and thrill of the sport and the fact it keeps him in shape.
Wales and West
Patsy Caines – cycling, 16 years, from Yeovil – Patsy first started cycling with her family and quickly progressed to racing, winning her first race at the age of 12. Being a sportsperson boosts her self-esteem, particularly knowing that she is racing against and training alongside some of the best racers and coaches in the UK.
Reuben Hothersall – disability sailing, 15 years, from Bristol - Reuben took up sailing when his regular hospital mentioned that access sailing was available locally. He made good progress and really got into the sport when he was invited to join a club - the professional world class squad.
Leo McCrea – paraswimming, 12 years, from Poole - Leo has been part of the Dwarf Sport Association (DSA) since he was six years old. At the DSA National Games in Birmingham Ellie Simmonds' mum told him he should pursue the sport of swimming and join a club as he was fast for his age. Since then, the team spirit at his swimming club motivates him and he likes the competition side of the sport as well as keeping fit.
London and South East
Samantha Fuller – golf, 17 years, from Kingston-upon-Thames - Samantha fell in love with golf after watching her father play and couldn't resist trying it for herself. She trains up to six hours a day, six days a week, as well as five hours of strength and conditioning training each week.
Liam Hall – goalball, 16 years, from Eastleigh - Liam first became involved with goalball when two Paralympic goalball players ran a taster session at his school, after which he joined his local club in Winchester. Liam studies goalball as one of his sports in his PE GCSE, carrying out weekly training and coaching sessions at school, as well as attending training at his local club.
Theo Collins – short-track speed skating, 12 years, from Guildford - Theo watched short track speed skating at his local ice rink and asked if he could have a try with the Aldwych Speed Club. Theo’s training includes three on-ice training sessions, around four hours a week on cycle training and a further five hours a week on other off-ice training, such as gym sessions. Theo loves the big international competitions with skaters from all over Europe.
About OCS Group Limited
www.ocs.co.uk
OCS Group is an international total facilities management (TFM) provider, with annual turnover of £1bn, employing more than 87,000 people in 50 countries worldwide. OCS ranked 59th in the Sunday Times Top Track 100 in July 2016.
The company offers more than 80 individual services from catering, cleaning, horticulture and waste management to security, maintenance and hygiene. These services can be delivered individually or as part of a fully-integrated FM solution. OCS manages and delivers services to organisations across the public and private sector.
As a private business in the fifth-generation of family ownership, OCS believes in sustainable solutions. Its maxim Here Today, Here Tomorrow reflects the delivery of sustainable solutions to facilities management problems which are sustainable in financial, human, community and environmental terms. Its core values define what it believes in as an organisation. OCS puts customers first; fosters a ‘can do’ attitude; builds strong relationships; recognises wider responsibilities; promotes change and innovation; and provides great value.
OCS takes an active role in the facilities management community as members of the British Institute of Facilities Management and the Business Services Association.
For more information, email Thomas.parker@magentaassociates.co.uk or call Tom on 07952 060286.