As the countdown continues to the Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards 2018, an expert judging panel has been unveiled and face a tough task in choosing the top performances of the year following a record medal haul for Team Scotland at Gold Coast 2018, Scottish team and individual success across the globe and the excitement of a European Championships on home soil still to come.

Recognising outstanding achievement by the individuals, teams and organisations that put Scotland on the sporting map, 13 important award categories will be decided amidst a memorable night of inspiration and entertainment at the Awards in Edinburgh on 13 September.

Coming from across the world of sport, with a range of backgrounds in volunteering, community sport, coaching, high performance and media, the nine-strong judging panel will be ready to use their experience and knowledge of the sporting environment in Scotland to decide the finalists and winners when the two waves of nominations close on 31 July and 27 August.

Chair of Commonwealth Games Scotland, Paul Bush OBE, leads a panel which includes the expertise of former stars who have done the country proud at the highest level, alongside leaders in media, politics and high performance sport.

BBC Scotland sport and news presenter, Rhona McLeod and former First Minister for Scotland, Jack McConnell will weigh in alongside past sporting stars such as double Commonwealth Games Swimming gold medallist, Caitlin McClatchey; Scotland Rugby Sevens’ highest capped player and third highest points scorer of all-time, Colin Gregor and double Commonwealth Games medallist and World top-20 Badminton player, Susan Egelstaff.

Adding their expertise to the panel are Director of High Performance at the sportscotland Institute of Sport, Mike Whittingham, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Disability Sport, Gavin McLeod and Jaqueline Lynn, Head of School and Community Sport at sportscotland.

Excited to be able to call on the knowledge of such a strong judging panel, Paul Bush OBE said: “I am thrilled to be working with some of the most respected names in their fields as we embark on the search for the best of the best across Scottish sport. The Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards is a wonderful celebration of the dedication, commitment and talent that goes into the performances that inspire the nation and it is vitally important to choose judges with wide reaching experience across high performance, grassroots and community sport.”

Meet the judging panel on our dedicated page.

Nominations for all award categories, including Community Hub, Club or School of the Year, are now open – visit the Nomination Page to submit your choice in any of the categories.

The Team Scotland Scottish Sports Awards will take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on Thursday 13 September with medallists from Team Scotland’s record overseas medal haul at Gold Coast 2018, Pyeonchang 2018 Winter Olympians and Paralympians and leaders of sport and business on the 600-strong guest list.

For more information on the 2018 Awards, or to book your place, visit: www.teamscotland.scot/events/team-scotland-sports-awards/