While the world has been very different in 2020, many people have still managed to use sport and physical activity to support communities across Scotland. In recent months we have seen outstanding examples of coaches, officials and volunteers leading the way to keep communities active.
With restrictions in place, we are unable to host our annual COV Awards but that won’t stop us shining a light on the #COVChampions who have used sport and physical activity to support others in many different ways.
We know there are more out there and we want to help share your stories to celebrate the inspiring individuals who are working hard to ensure that more people can benefit from sport. Check out the video for a throwback to some of the community heroes we've recognised in the past.
What are the COV Awards?
The COV Awards are the annual sportscotland awards which look to highlight the phenomenal work done by coaches, officials and volunteers in sport over the previous year. With award winners ranging from community volunteers to high-performance coaches, the COV Awards are an opportunity to celebrate individuals across the entire sporting system.
The 2019 winners were selected from more than 350 nominations ranging across multiple age groups and covering 47 sports and 32 local authorities. You can read more about the 2019 winners and their achievements in this article.
Introducing COV Champions
We couldn’t let the current restrictions stop us from recognising the great work that coaches, officials and volunteers have done over the past year, and that’s why we are committed to celebrating as many COV Champions as we can. Maybe you know someone who has gone above and beyond to help keep people connected to sport in these challenging times?
To do this, please get involved in the #COVChampions campaign. Tell us all about the outstanding achievements by coaches, officials and volunteers you have seen this year. They can be any age, from any sport, or in any local area.
Perhaps someone close to you has kept you active during the pandemic? Or promoted an inclusive and welcoming sporting environment? Let us know!
How to get involved
The campaign will be active throughout November with the hashtag #COVChampions and getting involved is easy. Just follow the steps below:
- Choose a coach, official or volunteer that you feel deserves a little recognition for their work this year
- On social media, tell us about their work and why it has been important to you or others
- Remember to include a photo or a link for more information where possible
- Don’t forget to use the hashtag #COVChampions and tag @sportscotland.
Find out more
If you need any more advice or have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the sportscotland communications team.
