Speaking at a press briefing held at RJR yesterday, new chairman of the RJR Sports Foundation, Chris Dehring, said: "It's a special award, because it would allow the public to take part in the actual selection."

However, he was quick to point out that his board has not yet finalised the criteria which will be used to select the winner. But he gave an example of what they would be looking for in that particular performance.

He recalled that at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics Bert Cameron fought gallantly with an injury to qualify for the men's 400m final, but could not take the track.

Dehring said Cameron ran probably one of the greatest Olympic races ever, but if someone had won an Olympic gold, chances are that person would be named Sportsman of the Year.

"So, we want to use this award to honour great performance," he added.

Unlike previous years where up to 10 people were nominated for each award, Dehring said "The board is of the view we should nominate the best, who deserve ... who meet the criteria.

"It could be 20 people, it could be one, that is the objective, to nominate the best people, who deserve the award," he added.

The selection committee - Mike Fennell (chairman), Clement Radcliffe, Courtney Sergeant, Grace Jackson, along with Tony Becca - has been charged to make the selections.