Sporting Hall of Fame criteria change

Councillors have unanimously endorsed a recommendation to revise the selection criteria for Wagga Wagga City Council’s Sporting Hall of Fame to make it clearer for future panellists and nominators.

Moving forward, athletes will be eligible for the city’s most prestigious sporting honour once they retire from either international competition or the highest level of competition in their chosen sport – where international representation is not an option.

“This is only a very small change to the selection criteria,” Strategic Asset Planner Ben Creighton said.

“Historically, it’s been when they’ve retired from the highest level of competition.

“Now the criteria will read, retiring from International competition, or the highest level of competition. This change was made in order to make the criteria clearer for future panels when assessing applications.”

Nominees who are successfully inducted into the city’s Sporting Hall of Fame are recognised as having made a valuable contribution to their chosen sport.
“These are athletes haven’t just participated at the elite level, they have achieved a very high standard during their careers,” Mr Creighton said.

“That would usually mean representing Australia. However, when there is no avenue to represent the country, it could come down to earning selection in an All Australian Team.”

Council will induct additional sporting men or women into the Sporting Hall of Fame in coming months.

Mr Creighton expects the community will be impressed with the athletes unveiled for inclusion.

“They are of an extremely high calibre,” Mr Creighton said.