Inspirational young people were recognised this week with certificates of appreciation to celebrate their positive traits.

The 12 under-25s were nominated by sports clubs to receive the inaugural Muhammad Ali-Gibbons-Osaka awards.

Glenn Fubler, a co-ordinator at community activism group Imagine Bermuda, which organised the honours, said: “We do have some challenges in our community and it’s easy to focus on those negative qualities — that’s something that people are immediately drawn to.

“This is a way of going beyond the negative qualities and flipping it on its head and looking at those positive qualities that are endemic among many of our young people.”

He added: “A big part of it is that what you focus on gets larger.”

Mr Fubler said it was hoped the recognitions would take place annually.

He added: “It’s about helping to foster a collaborative spirit across the community of sporting organisations that we have in Bermuda.”

A statement about the awards said: “Muhammad Ali, the icon, requires little introduction.

“His principled refusal to join the US war in Vietnam, resulting in a boxing ban for four years, speaks for itself.

“Most U25s are unaware that our own Noel Gibbons took a principled stand in turning down a lucrative cricket offer from South Africa’s apartheid regime in the 1980s.”

Naomi Osaka, 24, is a four-time singles tennis grand slam winner.

The statement said that she “consistently champions social justice, and financially sustains a school for the disadvantaged in her father’s homeland of Haiti”.

It added that a common theme across the young people nominated for the awards was their efforts to “pass the baton” in their sport, providing mentorship for younger members.

The statement said: “This mentorship clearly does not only include skill development in the particular sport, but also involves promoting the mentees’ capacity for patience and perseverance.

“Another common theme among the nominees is that they readily assist in generally sustaining the sports organisations in which they were involved.

“There were those who inspire colleagues who happened to be older than themselves.

“An account was shared regarding a nominee who, in the past, regularly visited elder homes, ‘giving back’ by playing his saxophone.

“Another account records that one nominee is currently regularly involved in a community food programme.”

The statement added: “In the feedback that we received regarding these 12 young people, there’s evidence that notwithstanding the dangers our community faces, there is credible ‘hope’ in our shared future.”

It said that the nominees appreciated the involvement of Ernest Peets, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, as well as Branwen Smith-King, the Bermuda Olympic Association secretary-general.

Imagine Bermuda worked with the Bermuda Football Association and sports organisations across the island to celebrate the young people.

A spokesman added: “We’d like to extend our gratitude to our major sponsor for this effort, One Communications, and the key contribution of the BFA, as well as appreciation for the support from community stakeholders — World Distributors, SAL, Brown & Co, AF Smith, KFC and Speciality Cinema.”