Sport Industry Awards come to SA

The Sport Industry Awards - the ‘Oscars of the sports world' according to The Times newspaper in London and described as Europe's largest and most prestigious commercial sport awards - are to be replicated in South Africa; allegedly the first-ever opportunity for the rapidly evolving South African sports market to celebrate its business achievements.

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 is claimed to be the most visible and sought-after endorsement of commercial achievement in sport.

The City of Ekurhuleni will stage the inaugural Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards on 17 February 2011 at Emperors Palace.

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 most inspirational and successful sport stars - Lucas Radebe, Bobby Skinstad and Natalie du Toit - serving as the event's ambassadors.

Having just completed its eighth year, the corresponding UK gala event is claimed to be the largest sport business event in Europe and has attracted high-profile global sporting and non-sporting celebrities including 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 given their backing to the awards. SuperSport will serve as the official broadcaster of the awards while Rapport and City Press will add their 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 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.

The awards categories

• Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programme in Sport
  
• Sport Brand of the Year
  
• Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign
  
• Best Commercial Franchise of the Year
  
• Best International Sponsorship from a South African Company
  
• Best TV Sport Commercial
  
• Best Sport TV Show
  
• Technological Innovation in Sport Award
  
• Best Sport Magazine
  
• Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition
  
• Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual
  
• Best Grassroots Development Programme
  
• Provincial Governing Body of the Year
  
• Sport Agency of the Year
  
• South African Sport Leader of the Year
  
• Sport Entrepreneur of the Year
  
• The Lifetime Achievement Award

For more information, go to www.sportindustry.co.za.