Sports journalists in the country will have something to smile about when the Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe (Swaz) hosts the inaugural Sports Media Awards at the Harare Sports Club tomorrow.

Awards to be handed out tomorrow are Sports Journalist of the Year, Female Sports Reporter of the Year, Sports Photographer of the Year and Young Sports Writer of the Year. There are also to be special prizes for coverage of various sport codes across the categories of print, electronic and online media.

Tanganda Tea Company, National Foods, Herentals Group of Colleges and Zimbabwe Cricket are some of the organisations that have come on board to partner Swaz for the awards.

A Swaz spokesperson said the idea to have the awards was inspired by the fact that 2020 was a difficult year because of Covid-19, which saw little sporting activity in Zimbabwe.

“The event is borne out of the need to reward and encourage essential personnel who remained unwavering to duty in a year decimated by the global coronavirus pandemic and ensured the public was well-informed regardless and still received their favourite sports news and programmes,’’ the spokesperson said.

Several dignitaries from the local sports industry have been invited for what will be the only sporting awards function in the country this year. Sports and Recreation Commission acting director-general Sebastian Garikai will be the guest of honour at the ceremony.-The Sunday News