The 2022 Blues Dinner to be held at Royal Randwick Racecourse will be held on Friday 29 July 2022.
The awards will consider the impact of COVID-19. Sporting excellence and general performance in the spirit of the various award categories will be honoured.
2022 Sports Awards
Female Athlete of the Year*
Awarded to an outstanding female athlete who has achieved sporting excellence in 2021
Male Athlete of the Year*
Awarded to an outstanding male athlete who has achieved sporting excellence in 2021
Indigenous Athlete of the Year*
Awarded to an outstanding Indigenous athlete who has achieved sporting excellence in 2021
International Student Athlete of the Year
Awarded to an outstanding International student athlete who has achieved sporting excellence in 2021
Coach of the Year
Awarded to a coach who has guided their team/athlete to the pursuit of greatness, on and off the field in 2021
Administrator of the Year
Awarded to a member of the UNSW sporting community who has made an outstanding contribution to their sport in 2021
Team of the Year
Awarded to an outstanding team who has achieved sporting excellence in 2021
Club of the Year
Awarded to an outstanding club who has achieved on and off the field excellence in 2021
Academic Excellence Award*
Awarded to a student who has achieved excellence in both sport and study in 2021
Community Sport Award
Awarded to an individual, club or society that has made an outstanding contribution to the UNSW sporting community.
*Nominees must be current UNSW students
General Sports Awards criteria
The individual Nominee and the Team or Club nomination will have, during 2021, performed one or more of the following actions:
- demonstrated exceptional community spirit
- overcome adversity
- shown resilience and determination
- helped others in their sporting community
- exhibited creativity, ingenuity, and positivity
- achieved sporting excellence.
University Blue
The UNSW Blue award recognises and celebrates UNSW students who have achieved the highest level of sporting excellence in their chosen sport, who are a person of outstanding character and values, and who have made a contribution to sport at UNSW.
University Blue award criteria
- The nominee must be a current student enrolled in a degree or diploma at UNSW.
- The nominee shall be an outstanding performer and meet the individual and/or team standards in their sport, and be approved by the Blues Committee.
- The nominee shall for a minimum period of TWO competitive years have actively participated at the highest level of sport, or equivalent, for which the University competes in that specific sport, or equivalent.
- Nominees are not required to have played for or represented UNSW, only to have participated at a level of competition that is equivalent to, or above, the highest level available at UNSW. In some cases, nominees may have competed for a different club or team, or individually against UNSW – this is not a valid reason for not receiving a Blues Award, providing they meet all criteria.
- Nominees shall at all times demonstrate excellent sportsmanship and uphold the UNSW values throughout their sporting and academic career.
Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Award
Sport Recognition Awards are awarded to sporting club members for their continuous outstanding contributions to sport at UNSW. Doug Crawford has been a passionate contributor to UNSW Sport since 1952.
Sports Recognition Award criteria
The nominee shall have actively supported the nominating club for a minimum period of five (5) years including the year of nomination, either by consistent participation in the club's sporting or recreational activity or by valuable service to the club's organisation and administration.
Alex Blackwell Award
This award, now in its second year, aligns with the UNSW Women in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy and is named in honour of UNSW alumna and former Australian cricket captain Alex Blackwell, who has been a long-time advocate for women in sport.
Alex Blackwell Award criteria
The nominee upholds the values and vision of the UNSW Women in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy in one or more of the following ways:
- advocating for women and girls in sport and active recreation
- being a trailblazer for women in the leadership of a sporting club or organisation
- coaching or developing programs that have increased women’s participation in sport
- supporting or being a role model for girls and women who want to participate or be involved in sport.
