SportsTravel magazine has announced the list of sporting events that have been nominated for the 2008 SportsTravel Awards. Events are nominated and then voted upon by readers of SportsTravel, the sports world's event magazine. Criteria for nomination and voting include superior organization of and attendance at the event, a superior experience for the competitors and/or spectators at the event, and how the site or venue served to enhance the event. To be eligible, nominated events had to occur between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008.

Final balloting is open through September 15, 2008. Winners will be announced at the TEAMS 2008 Conference & Expo, October 21-25, 2008, in Pittsburgh.

"The events that have been nominated are prime examples of excellence in the organization and management of sporting events," said Timothy Schneider, publisher of SportsTravel magazine, which organizes the TEAMS Conference & Expo. "SportsTravel readers are the leaders of the sports-event industry and they really know what it takes to execute high-quality athletic events," said Schneider. "The SportsTravel Awards program is an opportunity for them to honor their peers for a job well done."

Official ballots are available in the August and September issues of SportsTravel magazine. Readers may also vote online at http://www.SportsTravelMagazine.com. The ballot includes nominees in amateur, collegiate and professional categories. Awards in those three categories will be given for best single-sport event, best multi-sport or multi-discipline event, and best sports event series or circuit. Voters will also select the best new sports event of the past year and an overall Sports Event of the Year from among the nominated events.

The TEAMS 2008 Conference and Expo is the world's largest annual gathering for the sports-event and sports-related travel industry.

TEAMS and SportsTravel are owned by Schneider Publishing, the Los Angeles-based company that also publishes Association News magazine. The group travel markets served by Schneider Publishing generate 106 million room nights annually. For further information, please call toll-free (877) 577-3700.

Following are the 2008 SportsTravel Award nominees:

Best amateur single-sport event
2007 Great White North Dragon Boat Challenge, Toronto, Canada
2007 National Bicycle League Grand National, Louisville, KY
2008 JAMfest Cheer Super Nationals, Indianapolis, IN
2008 National Draw Women’s Lacrosse Amateur Championship, Marlton, NJ
2008 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Oklahoma City, OK
2008 U.S. Youth Soccer Southern Regional Championship, Raleigh, NC, and Wilson, NC

Best amateur multi-sport or multi-discipline event
2007 AAU Junior Olympic Games, Knoxville, TN
2007 ICF Junior Wildwater World Championships, Columbia, SC, and Charlotte, NC
2007 Pop Warner Super Bowl & National Cheer/Dance Championships, Orlando, FL
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Slalom Canoe/Kayak, Charlotte, NC
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, Omaha, NE
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field, Eugene, OR

Best amateur sports event series or circuit
2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Various
2007 Little League Baseball World Series, Williamsport, PA
2008 City Chase USA, Various
2008 Kick-it 3v3 Soccer Tour, Various
2008 Muddy Buddy Series, Various
2008 USA Softball KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour, Various

Best collegiate single-sport event
2007 Army-Navy Football Classic, Baltimore, MD
2008 BCS National Championship Game (LSU vs. Ohio State), New Orleans, LA
2008 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Game, Omaha, NE
2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship Game, Denver, CO
2008 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship, Tuscaloosa, AL
2008 Under Armour Senior Bowl, Mobile, AL

Best collegiate multi-sport or multi-discipline event
2008 ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships, Chapel Hill, NC
2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Gymnastics Championships, Athens, GA
2008 NCAA Division II Spring Championships Festival, Houston, TX
2008 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships, Oshkosh, WI
2008 NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Levelland, TX
2008 Penn Relay Carnival, Philadelphia, PA

Best collegiate sports event series or circuit
2007 EA Sports Maui Invitational, Maui, HI
2008 Big East Baseball Championships, Clearwater, FL
2008 NAIA Softball National Championships, Decatur, AL
2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships, San Antonio, TX
2008 NCAA Division I Softball Championships, Oklahoma City, OK
2008 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships, Tampa Bay, FL

Best professional single-sport event
2007 Davis Cup Final, Portland, OR
2008 French Open Championship Match, Paris, France
2008 Kentucky Derby, Louisville, KY
2008 Masters, Augusta, GA
2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship, San Diego, CA
Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, AZ

Best professional multi-sport or multi-discipline event
2007 ESPN Summer X Games, Los Angeles, CA
2007 Professional Bull Riders Ford Tough Finals, Las Vegas, NV
2007 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Las Vegas, NV
2008 Arnold Fitness Weekend, Columbus, OH
2008 ESPN Winter X Games, Aspen, CO
2008 Teva Mountain Games, Vail, CO

Best professional sports event series or circuit
2007 NFL NFC Championship Playoff Series, Various
2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup, Various
2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, Detroit, MI, and Pittsburgh, PA
2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series, Various
2008 STIHL TimberSports Series, Various
2008 XTERRA American Tour, Various

Best New Sports Event
2007 USA Rowing World Challenge, Oklahoma City, OK
2008 American Eagle Outfitters Tour of Pennsylvania, Various
2008 Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon, Fredericksburg, VA
2008 Puerto Rico Open, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
2008 Ultimate Boarder, Various
2008 XTERRA Winter World Championship, Huntsville, UT