It will also allow those for smaller, less high-profile sports to be considered fairly on their merits of success within this country. "[The idea] came from the judging panel," said Jonas.
"Last year there were some outstanding national performances that unfortunately weren't going to get the gong."
Overall Jonas is pleased with 70 nominations across 29 individual sports, although he admits Sport Wanganui can only chase so hard to get the spread.
"I still think there's some codes that unfortunately don't get around to nominations."
Last year's supreme winner and open coxless pair Olympic bronze medal Rebecca Scown cannot attend the ceremony as she is in India for another week. She still finds herself in good company chasing the international senior sportsperson of the year fellow Olympians like coxless four rower Chris Harris and 1500m runner Lucy Van Dalen.
Commonwealth powerlifting championship silver medallist Sharnell Duncan completes the field.
In the national category, Wanganui rugby standout Jon Smyth will contest the award with champion jockey Lisa Allpress.
As expected, the wealth of junior talent in this region has been recognised with 13 athletes contesting the international prize and 15 more chasing the national award.
The independent judging panel who had to make the tough decisions was chairwoman Philippa Baker-Hogan, Grant McKinnon, David Ogilvie and Keith Smith. The guest speaker tonight is Shaun Quincey.
The awards begin tonight at 5.30pm at the Wanganui Racecourse.
