Australian Sports Medal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Australian Sports Medal
Obverse of medal and ribbon
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 given to people who have achieved great things in Australian sport. It celebrates Australia's involvement in big sporting events. At first, it was given to athletes, coaches, sports scientists, and even people who looked after sports places. More than 18,000 medals were given out between 2000 and 2001. The award was brought back in 2020 to honor Australians who take part in major international sports events.

What the Medal Looks Like

The Australian Sports Medal is round and made of shiny nickel-silver.

Front of the Medal

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.

Back of the Medal

The back of the medal has the same track lines as the front. Around the edge, it says "to commemorate Australian sporting achievement." The year "2000" is also marked on the back.

Ribbon and Colors

The medal hangs from a 32 mm ribbon. The ribbon has Australia's national sporting colors: green and yellow.

History of the Award

The idea for the Australian Sports Medal was announced on December 31, 1998. It was officially created on December 23, 1999.

When the Medal Was First Given Out

The first medals were given out in the year 2000. The award was then stopped in 2001.

Bringing the Medal Back

On December 4, 2020, the Queen of Australia approved changes to the rules for the medal. This meant the award could be given out again. It was brought back to celebrate Australians taking part in major multi-sport events.

Events Recognized by the Medal

The medal now recognizes participation in many big international events, including:

• Invictus Games (from 2018)
• International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS) Global Games (from 2019)
• Special Olympics World Summer Games (from 2019)
• Special Olympics World Winter Games (from 2021)
• Summer Olympic Games (from 2020)
• Winter Olympic Games (from 2022)
• Summer Paralympic Games (from 2020)
• Winter Paralympic Games (from 2022)
• Commonwealth Games (from 2022)

Who Has Received the Medal

The number of medals given out each year is made public. This table shows how many have been awarded:

How the Medal is Awarded

The Australian Sports Medal is given out by the Governor-General. This medal was created to celebrate Australian sporting achievements. It honors many different Australians who helped the country succeed in sports.

Who Can Receive It

People who received the medal included former athletes, coaches, sports scientists, and even those who looked after sports facilities. Most medals were given to people who were nominated by the sports community. Major sports organizations were given a certain number of medals to award. All Australian politicians could also nominate people.

New Rules for Awarding

When the award was brought back in 2020, new rules for who can get it were announced. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the medal would be given to "official members of Australian teams who participate in eligible international multi-sport events." This includes team members and officials at international events, especially those 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