Awards ceremony to be held March 8 at Fox Theatre

Atlanta sports fans will once again determine the best of the best in category as the Atlanta Sports Council proudly presents the fifth annual Atlanta Sports Awards. Fan nominations for Atlanta’s top athletes, coaches and sports organizations are set to begin today and will continue through Dec. 18, 2009.  The 2010 Atlanta Sports Awards gala will be held Monday, March 8, in the historic Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom.

Fans are encouraged to visit www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com and nominate candidates in the following categories:

    * High School Athlete of the Year Award
    * Professional Athlete of the Year Award presented by SunTrust
    * Amateur Athlete of the Year Award presented by CSS
    * Collegiate Athlete of the Year Award presented by AT&T
    * Sports Person of the Year Award presented by Champion Windows Manufacturing
    * Coach of the Year Award presented by Delta Air Lines
    * Team of the Year Award presented by The Home Depot

Winners will be determined by the Atlanta Sports Awards Voting Academy, a panel of local sports business leaders, athletic administrators and corporate sponsor representatives.

“Atlanta has been and continues to be such a tremendous sports city, so it’s only fitting that we take one evening to celebrate the wonderful achievements and milestones of the past year,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Sports Council president. “And through this nomination campaign we are encouraging sports fans to get involved and let their opinions be heard.”

Three additional awards will be selected by the voting academy and presented at the black-tie event, including:

    * Female and Male High School Scholar Athletes of the Year
    * Furman Bisher Award for Sports Media Excellence presented by the Atlanta Sports Council
    * Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Coca-Cola

ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS AWARDS
Created in 2006 by the Atlanta Sports Council, the Atlanta Sports Awards has become a way to rally the city of Atlanta to recognize athletic excellence on a yearly basis. The Atlanta Sports Awards honors 11 award recipients who distinguish themselves from the five million people living in the 29 metro Atlanta counties and surrounding areas. That includes all six Atlanta professional sports teams, 14 universities, 12 junior colleges and more than 250 public and private high schools. For more information, contact the Atlanta Sports Council at (404) 586-8510 or visit www.AtlantaSportsAwards.com.

ABOUT THE ATLANTA SPORTS COUNCIL
The Atlanta Sports Council promotes the value of sports growth in Atlanta and Georgia by acting as an authority on the economic impact, visibility and quality of life issues associated with sports. Its mission is to lead, organize and support sports development with the goal of building Atlanta’s reputation as the Sports Capital of the World. The Atlanta Sports Council won the Sports Commission of the Year Award in 2000, 2004 and 2006. For more information, visit www.AtlantaSportsCouncil.com.