The nomination period for the 2024 Malawi Sports Awards, set for February 28, 2025, at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi, concluded on January 5, 2025.
The Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) initiated the nomination process in November 2024, gathering submissions from affiliated sports associations, sports journalists, and the Sports Writers’ Association
Following the nomination phase, several steps will be taken to identify the winner in each category.
- The shortlisting stage, where the received nominees undergo a review by the shortlisting committee to ascertain their eligibility for the awards. The committee comprising of sports journalists and selected sports experts shall conduct the review of the nominations.
- The adjudication stage, which involves evaluating the shortlisted nominees to identify the top three finalists for each category. The evaluation stage will be done by the adjudication committee. This committee shall comprise of selected sports personalities who range from sport administrators, sport journalists, sports commentators, sport legends, academics and other sectors. Each nominee will be voted based on their achievements, contributions, and alignment with the category’s criteria.
- The selection stage, involves choosing the winners from the shortlisted top three nominees for each category. This committee shall comprise of selected sports personalities who range from sport administrators, sport journalists, sport commentators, sport legends, academics and other sectors. The judging panel will constitute 70% of the score. The panel will work independently of any external influence, ensuring integrity and fairness throughout the selection process.
- The public voting stage, where the public will vote for their choice among the three nominees for each category, with the public vote constituting 30% of the final score.
- The aggregation stage, will determine the final winner based on the highest score (70% committee, 30% public). Th decision of the aggregation committee will be final and binding the results will remain confidential until the day of the event.
Fourteen sporting categories will be contested at this year’s awards, including Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year (up to the age of 20), Junior Male Sportsperson of the Year (up to the age of 20), National Team of the Year, Best Executed Sport Development Programme of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, Sportswoman of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year – Print, Sports Journalist of the Year – Electronic, Sports Association of the Year, Sports Administrator of the Year, and Sportsperson of the Year.
The Malawi Sport Awards aim to recognise, celebrate and reward outstanding achievements and contributions made by athletes, coaches, officials, teams, and organizations in the development and promotion of sports in Malawi in a sporting year.