'It ranks right up there with getting my Test cap in 2000 at Queen's Park Oval and being knighted by the people of the Caribbean to say 'we want you to represent us'," [Wavell Hinds], president of the West Indies Players Association, said after topping three other nominees at the ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Wednesday night. The award's selection panel, headed by chairman Brian George, thought the 37year-old Hinds best exemplified the tenets of the award, which seeks to recognise a sporting personality who displays a high level of humility, integrity and discipline.
[Bolt], who continued his global domination at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay, added to his IAAF World Athlete of the Year Award by copping the Most Outstanding Performer (Male) for 2012 and 2013 awards at the function.
Usain Bolt and his Jamaican teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have been shortlisted for the United States Sports Academy Athlete-of-the-Year Award 2013.
The annual cultural gala featured presentations of City Council proclamations to several persons of Jamaican heritage who have achieved success in various fields. Tribute paid to the national heroes who started the march for freedom and independence, as well as the heroics of the athletes at the Games of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, China.