MAIN Club sponsor Aviva has been nominated for a prestigious international sports award for its work last year with the Aviva Community Chest initiative.

The Sport Industry Awards 2009 are the "Oscars" of the sports world being Europe's largest and most prestigious commercial sports awards. They recognise and reward the best sport-business in marketing, PR, sponsorship, new media, publishing, advertising and design.

Aviva's Community Chest Challenge ran in September last year in conjunction with the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich City Football Club and saw the company give up its name on the shirts of the Canaries' first team - among other things - to a charity nominated and voted for by the local community.

The Benjamin Foundation, a North Walsham-based charity dedicated to providing services for young people, won the Norwich City sponsorship for the Doncaster Rovers game in October and The Benjamin Foundation's founder Richard Draper said: "For a local Norfolk charity to get this level of recognition is phenomenal."

Chris Elliott, Aviva Sponsorship Manager commented: "It's great that one of the first big events since we became main Club sponsor has been recognised like this. It was a great team effort by all parties that led to a successful day for The Benjamin Foundation."

City's Chief Executive Neil Doncaster added: "We are delighted that Aviva have been nominated as one of the finalists for this prestigious award. The Football Club, along with the EDP, were absolutely delighted to support them in this very worthwhile initiative which captured the imagination of the local community who in turn played their part, raising over £20,000 for The Benjamin Foundation. Everyone at Norwich City Football Club wishes Aviva the very best of luck at the awards."

To make it to the final shortlist of six in the category of "Best Use of PR in a Sports Campaign", the initiative has already got through a steering committee of more than 50 top industry figures and 40 hours of intensive judging.

The six finalists in the category are: Aviva - Community Chest Challenge; E.On - Carbon Footyprint; McDonald's - when Theo's mum met Rio's mum; Premier League - Creating Chances Places for Players; Reebok - Lewis Hamilton - the Art of driving and Speedo - LZR Racer.

The winners of the Sport Industry Awards 2009 will be announced at a star-studded gala dinner on April 30.