Following weeks of preparation, Sport PEI will announce the winners of its annual awards when it hosts the annual banquet Wednesday at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown.

Matt Rainnie of CBC’s Island Morning, and long-time banquet host JoAnne Holden, will emcee the event, which is now officially sold out.

Winners will be declared in 11 categories, and in addition there will be presentations of the Premier’s Award for Sports Organization of the Year; the President’s Award, to a long-time volunteer, and the Lieutenant Governor’s Award, which goes to the Island’s top athlete, as determined by the Sport PEI Board of Directors.

The PEI Special Olympics Curling Team is one of the three finalists for SCORE! Team of the Year, along with the PEI Women’s Panthers (hockey), and Team PEI (powerlifting)

Standing is Dick St. John (Coach), Monique Gauthier (Lead), Ann Doucette (Assistant Coach), Phillip Chugg (Mate); Sitting is Greg St. John (Skip), John Anthony  (5th Player/Lead), Chris MacPherson (Second). (Photo courtesy Special Olympics PEI)

Vying for the Senior Male Athlete of the Year is World Cup Paranordic biathlete Mark Arendz, Team Canada softball captain and Pan American gold medallist Jeff Ellsworth, and Olympic sprinter Jared Connaughton.

Finalists for the Senior Female award are swimmer Janet Gamble, wrestler Veronica Keefe, and goalball standout Amy Kneebone, who represented Canada at the 2012 Paralympics.

Registration and reception will be from 6pm at the Rodd Royalty, with the banquet beginning at 6.45pm following the arrival of His Honour Frank Lewis, Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island.