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The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) has announced the introduction of the Athlete Community Engagement Award, a celebration of the outstanding positive influence an athlete has on the community. The inaugural award will be presented at next month’s AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs).
Among the four nominees are wheelchair tennis player Dylan Alcott, and Para-triathlete Katie Kelly.
Alcott has used his profile to become a leading advocate for people with a disability, establishing Get Skilled Access, the Dylan Alcott Foundation, and the Ability Fest music festival.
Kelly’s contribution in 2019 has also been immense. She is Founder and Director of the Sport Access Foundation, is a member of the Deafsport Australia Board, and has delivered pro bono speeches to Cricket Australia’s national inclusion camps and to the 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments Global Games Sports Summit. She also personally mentors a 13-year-old aspiring Para-triathlon competitor.
The Community Engagement Award recognises the strong commitment of the AIS to ensuring athletes strike the right balance between wellbeing, engagement in activities outside of training and competition, and the requirements of elite sport.
The ASPAs are the annual celebration of Australian high performance sport, with the winners to be announced at a black tie function in Sydney, NSW, on 10 December.
By the AIS
Posted: 21/11/2019
