Cricket umpire Simon Taufel has been named `Official of the Year` at the Australian
Sports Awards presentation here.
Taufel won the award from other stand out officials Mark
Shield (soccer) and Scot Butler (basketball) at a ceremony last night.
The 36-year-old said the recognition of umpires and officials
was important to continue building the value of sport in the Australian culture.
"I hope that this form of recognition creates awareness that officials
are an integral part of the game and encourages other members of the community
to look at match officiating as a way of contributing to their chosen favourite
sport," he said.
Regarded as the leading umpire in world cricket, Taufel`s outstanding
performance in 2006 included a third-straight Umpire of the Year award presented
by the International Cricket Council as voted by the 10 Test playing captains
and the eight-man Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Referees.
Australian cricket also featured in two other categories
with Cricket Australia`s CricKids Ashes Challenge school resource nominated
as a top three finalist in the Sports Information Technology Award, and Australian
captain Karen Rolton nominated as Female Athlete of the Year.
Now in their 27th year, the Australian Sport Awards recognise
Australian athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and administrators across
all areas of the sports sector who have achieve outstanding success in their
field during 2006.
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