Twenty athletes, ten men and ten women, have been nominated for the island's top sporting honour.

The male nominees are led by Jamaica and West Indies pace bowler Courtney Walsh who became the region's leading Test wicket taker during the recent five-Test series in South Africa. Other men in contention for the award are: James Beckford and Dinsdale Morgan athletics, Ricardo Gardner, Ian Goodison and Theodore Whitmore football, Roy Paul Jr. - badminton, Jermaine Smith - tennis, Charles Hussey - horse-racing and David Summerbell Jr. - motor-racing.

The battle for the women's crown is expected to be tight with 1996 Olympic hero Deon Hemmings leading a large contingent of fellow track athletes including Gillian Russell, Michelle Freeman, Dionne Rose, Beverley McDonald, Sandie Richards, Juliet Campbell and Mardrea Hyman.

Fast-improving swimmer Janelle Atkinson and badminton's Nigella Saunders round out the elite group.

The foundation will, for the first time, recognise the first and second runners-up for the awards.