Sport Industry Awards Launches In South Africa

The Sport Industry Awards, Europe’s largest and most prestigious commercial sport awards, are to be replicated in South Africa; the first-ever opportunity for the rapidly evolving South African sports market to celebrate its business achievements.

At launch the Awards has already garnered the support of global brands and international icons with Virgin Active signing up as Headline Partner and three of the country’s most inspirational and successful sport stars – Lucas Radebe, Bobby Skinstad and Natalie du Toit – serving as the event’s Ambassadors.

The City of Ekurhuleni will stage the inaugural Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards which will take place on February 17th, 2011 and will be hosted by Emperors Palace.

Presented in front of a star-studded audience of all the key stakeholders in South African sport, the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards will recognise and reward the best the South African sport business has to offer in categories covering marketing, PR, sponsorship, media, advertising and design.

The annual Awards ceremony will see the country’s top-performing sport brands and organisations receive recognition for their work at a glamorous black-tie event in what has become the most visible and sought-after endorsement of commercial achievement in sport.

Having just completed its eighth year, the corresponding UK gala event is the largest sport business event in Europe and has attracted the highest profile global sporting and non-sporting celebrities including the likes of David and Victoria Beckham, Jenson Button, Martin Johnson, Dame Kelly Holmes, Kevin Pietersen, Thierry Henry, Bernie Ecclestone, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Michael Johnson who have lined up alongside all the key stakeholders from within the UK sport industry to celebrate the annual Awards.

The introduction of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards will be supported by a breaking news and views website – www.sportindustry.co.za – to be launched with immediate effect, providing the South African sport business with a regular one-stop information source of all the developments in this fast-evolving industry.

Aside from Virgin Active’s involvement as Headline Partner, a number of corporate companies have rushed to give their significant backing to the Awards. SuperSport will serve as the Official Broadcaster of the Sport Industry Awards whilst Rapport and City Press will add their considerable online and print expertise as the event’s Official Media Partners. EA Sports are the first of a number of category sponsors to confirm their involvement.

Deloitte, the major international accounting and consulting firm, will be the event’s Official Independent Adjudicator, overseeing the judging process for the Awards which has garnered a reputation as one of the most transparent and credible procedures of its kind.

Nick Keller, Chairman, Sport Industry Group:

“No country in the world knows more than South Africa how powerful sport can be and with the upcoming 2010 World Cup set to reaffirm South Africa’s status as a key region for the commercial world of sport, it is absolutely the right time to launch an event that recognises best practice in this area. The Awards will serve to reward the best work that the South African sport business has to offer, and bring the industry together to share, celebrate and reward.”

Ross Faragher-Thomas, Managing Director, Virgin Active:

“This is an unbelievable opportunity for Virgin Active to truly highlight our leadership and innovation position in South Africa by putting our name to an iconic international event such as the 2011 Sport industry Awards. It was a natural decision to take ownership of these “sporting Oscars” and this is the first time that we have put our name to such a huge international event with incredible global interest.”

Bobby Skinstad, Former Captain, South African Rugby Team:

“Having worked in South African sport for a number of years as both a player and latterly on the business side, I have witnessed a rapid evolution of the industry in terms of the levels of commercial interest. I’m delighted therefore to be an Ambassador for an event which recognises this fact and rewards those companies that have invested in our sporting organisations and personalities. By showcasing this work through such a prestigious event, it highlights to the rest of the world that South Africa is home to a sophisticated sports marketing industry and will help position this country firmly in the junction of sport and business.”

Natalie du Toit, Paralympic Swimming Gold Medallist:

“As a professional athlete I know how vital the support of the business world is to the continuing successes of all our sports. Sport is a very big part of South Africa, and the fantastic supporters in our proud country like nothing more than getting behind its sports stars. However, it is now our turn to get behind those key stakeholders that help to make it all possible in the first place. To be an Ambassador for such an exciting venture that recognises the contributions of those behind the scenes is a fantastic honour.”

Bob Yearham, Chief Operating Officer, Emperors Palace:

“Emperors Palace is a leader in the hospitality industry in South Africa. We are very proud to be associated with an international event of the magnitude of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards and welcome the event arriving on our shores for the first time in February 2011. We wish the organizers of the event continued success in years to come in their tireless efforts in the staging of such an event. The Emperors Palace staff & management will exceed the expectations of the event organisers in the standards that the event will achieve while based in the continent of Africa.”

Imtiaz Patel, Chief Executive, SuperSport:

“We broadcast sporting excellence every day. But excellence abounds beyond the sportsmen and women and SuperSport is thrilled to be involved in a project such as this, which seeks to recognise the industry itself. Our wish is that it thrives and becomes a mainstay of the sports calendar.”

For more information visit www.sportindustry.co.za.