British boxing great and Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison MBE will be the guest of honour at the 2015 Isle of Man Sports Awards.

The awards, which are again sponsored by the Isle of Man Bank, will be held on Wednesday 23rd March at the Villa Marina.

A highlight of the sporting calendar, the awards will celebrate the success of the Island’s sportsmen and women.

Audley’s battle through the amateur ranks to success with Commonwealth gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and Olympic glory in Sydney two years later is a fantastic story and one that highlights the focus and determination needed to become an elite athlete.

Following his Olympic success, Audley was awarded an MBE by the Queen for services to sport in 2001 and his career and profile in world boxing went from strength to strength.

In 2001, the London-born heavyweight turned professional and set up his own promotional company. This sparked a shake-up in the world of boxing, as he concluded an independent deal to bring professional boxing back onto BBC screens for the first time in 15 years.

Audley’s professional accolades include winning the World Federation Heavyweight Championship in 2004 and the European Heavyweight Championship in 2010.

Since his retirement last year, Audley has worked as an ambassador for various causes, inspiring the younger generation to take up sport and positive pastimes to deter them from anti-social activities.

Audley said: ‘I’ve heard so much about the Island and I am really looking forward to my trip. I hope I get an opportunity to meet as many people as I can while presenting the awards.’

Gary Corkhill, Executive Chairman of Isle of Man Sport, commented: ‘Audley is based in America, so we are particularly fortunate that he has managed to find time in his busy schedule to help us celebrate our sporting achievements this year. I am sure he will have a wonderful story to tell and inspire our athletes to achieve their own personal goals.’

Nominations for the Isle of Man Sports Awards close on Sunday 31st January. Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.iomsport.com and should be sent to: