TIME is running out to make nominations for the 2016 Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Awards.

Nominations close later this month, and people are being encouraged to nominate their unsung heroes and sporting talent to win one of 18 different award categories.

The awards publicly reward and recognise commitment, performance and excellence across all sports.

The wide range of categories ensures that recognition is given to elite performers, as well as to teams, clubs and stalwarts of the sporting community – the coaches, officials and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help sportsmen and women and clubs succeed.

In addition, the Outstanding Personal Achievement Award is a special award to recognise inspirational endeavour on the part of a participant, coach or volunteer who has overcome adversity to make an outstanding individual achievement in their chosen sport.

The annual event is a joint venture between Hampshire County Council, Sport Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and the local sports councils and forums in Hampshire.

The event has the support of BBC Radio Solent as well as businesses and organisations, including Hargroves Cycles, Calshot Activities Centre, Serious Sport, Halo Conferences, Toucan Design, Better Printing and Coaching Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

Nominations are free and are open until Friday, January 29.

The award sections this year are: junior sportsman and junior sportswoman, senior sportsman and senior sportswoman, masters sportsperson, junior disability sportsperson, senior disability sportsperson, junior team of the year, senior team of the year, coach of the year (participation), coach of the year (performance), official of the year, junior volunteer of the year, senior volunteer of the year, club of the year, London 2012 legacy award, outstanding personal achievement award, and service to sport award.

Online nomination forms can be found at: www.sporthampshireiow.co.uk, where nomination guidelines and the criteria for each of the awards will also be available.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Southampton Football Club on March 17.