Australian Sports Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Australian Sports Medal |
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  Obverse of medal and ribbon
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| Type | Medal |
| Eligibility | Australian Citizen |
| Awarded for | Sporting achievements |
| Status | Currently issued |
| Description | Introduced to recognise Australian sporting achievements. |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 23 December 1999 |
| Order of Wear | |
| Next (higher) | 80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal |
| Next (lower) | Centenary Medal |
The Australian Sports Medal is a special award in Australia. It celebrates amazing achievements in Australian sport. This medal also remembers Australia's part in big sporting events. At first, many different people received it. This included athletes, coaches, sports scientists, and even people who looked after sports places. Over 18,000 medals were given out between 2000 and 2001. The award started again in 2020. Now, it also honors Australians who take part in major international sports events.
Contents
What the Medal Looks Like
The Australian Sports Medal is round and shiny. It is made from a metal called nickel-silver.
- The front of the medal shows symbols of Australian sport. You can see the stars of the Southern Cross. There are also lines that look like an athletics track. These lines represent the track at the Australian Sports Stadium.
- The back of the medal has the same track lines. It also says, "to commemorate Australian sporting achievement." The year '2000' is also on the back.
- The medal hangs from a colorful ribbon. The ribbon is 32 millimeters wide. Its colors are green and yellow, which are Australia's national sports colors.
History of the Award
The idea for the Australian Sports Medal came out on December 31, 1998. It was officially created on December 23, 1999. The first medals were given out in the year 2000. The awards then stopped in 2001.
On December 4, 2020, the Queen of Australia agreed to new rules for the medal. This meant the award could be given out again. It now celebrates Australians who take part in major international sports events.
Events Recognized by the Medal
The medal is now given for participation in these big events:
- Invictus Games (starting from 2018)
- International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Global Games (starting from 2019)
- Special Olympics World Summer Games (starting from 2019)
- Special Olympics World Winter Games (starting from 2021)
- Summer Olympic Games (starting from 2020)
- Winter Olympic Games (starting from 2022)
- Summer Paralympic Games (starting from 2020)
- Winter Paralympic Games (starting from 2022)
- Commonwealth Games (starting from 2022)
How Many Medals Were Awarded?
This table shows how many medals have been given out. The numbers are based on financial years.
| Year | Number Awarded | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | 18,012 | These were given when the award first started. |
| 2021-22 | 982 | These were awarded after the medal started again. |
| 2022-23 | 933 |
How the Medal is Given Out
The Governor-General of Australia awards the Australian Sports Medal. This medal was created to honor Australians' achievements in sport. It recognizes many different people. These include former athletes, coaches, and sports scientists. It also includes people who manage sports organizations or maintain sports facilities.
Most medals were given to people who were nominated by the sports community. Major sports groups in Australia were given a certain number of medals to award. All Australian politicians could also nominate people.
When the award started again in 2020, new rules were announced. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the medal would now go to official members of Australian teams. This includes athletes and officials who take part in eligible international multi-sport events. This also includes international events for people with a disability.
See also
In Spanish: Medalla Deportiva Australiana para niños
- Australian Honours Order of Precedence
- Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal
