Best in the business recognised at Discovery Sports Industry Awards 2015

The worlds of business and sport combined on Thursday night for the Discovery Sport Industry Awards 2015 to recognise and celebrate the best work across the business. The annual celebration of success is the sport industry’s flagship event and took place at the Sandton Convention Centre for the second consecutive year.

A star-studded audience of more than 1 200 key figures and celebrities from sport and beyond including Graeme Smith, John Smit, Penny Heyns, John Walland, Rosie Motene and Derek Watts, saw the likes of adidas, EFC Worldwide, Diepsloot Mountain Bike Academy, Virgin Active, Cell C and the Absa Cape Epic take home Awards.

Playmakers Sponsorship once again took home the coveted Agency of the Year Award, sponsored by Gallo Images, for a record-breaking third time in a row.In the hotly contested Brand of the Year category, sponsored by Tsogo Sun, it was EFC Worldwide who lifted the Award for a second time.

Cell C claimed Best New Sponsorship for their backing of the Cell C Sharks and adidas again recorded a near-perfect clean sweep of their shortlisted entries. The global sportswear brand won Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition, sponsored by the Solutions Team, for their Two Oceans Marathon support, as well as the Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual thanks to its Orlando Pirates partnership.

Castle Lager’s work with FC Barcelona on the ‘Perfect Partnership’ secured the inaugural Best African Sponsorship Award, sponsored by Worldwide Sports - a new category added to the line-up in 2015 with the aim of building and advancing sport business across Africa.

Highlights of the night included an emotional tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen by longtime friend and former manager Morné du Plessis, who presented Joost with the Deloitte Outstanding Contribution to South African Sport Award, Jessica Motaung’s rousing speech on behalf of her father, Kaizer, who was awarded the Castle Lager Lifetime Achievement Award, and the launch of Discovery’s Rising Star Award, won by Gezelle Magerman.

Managing Director for the Sport Industry Group South Africa, James Monteith said: “The industry is growing so rapidly in South Africa, with these Awards celebrating that growth, and showcasing the incredible events, strategic thinking and world-class activations we’ve come to expect of the industry. Tonight’s shortlisters can be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved over the past few months, especially considering the stiff competition they faced to make the shortlist.”

“The atmosphere at the Awards was electric, with the winners being celebrated for their outstanding achievements and triumphs over such hotly-contested categories. Our congratulations go to the entire shortlist, as well as all of our Awards winners and every member of this incredible industry.”

The winners of this year’s Awards were selected from a record-breaking number of entries, judged by some of the mostrespected names in the sport industry, with the entire steering and judging process officiated by the Official Independent Adjudicators Deloitte.

The full list of winners can be seen on the Sport Industry Group South Africa Website www.sportindustry.co.za

ENDS

Editors Note

Discovery Sport Industry Awards

Held each year, the Discovery Sport Industry Awards showcase and reward the industry’s very best work, from a whole host of sports, brands, agencies and rights holders. Spanning marketing, PR, sponsorship, talent management, advertising, community investment, social media and branding, the industry will come together to celebrate the very best in class at South Africa’s most prestigious awards ceremony for sport and business.

Official Partners and Suppliers of the Discovery Sport Industry Awards includeCarling Black Label, Castle Lager, Deloitte, Gallo Images, The Solutions Team, Content Bar, Worldwide Sports