Discovery teams up with Netball SA as Official Wellness Partner to the SPAR Proteas and announces Vitality’s title sponsorship of the Netball World Cup 2023

Johannesburg, 9 February 2023 – Discovery today announced a partnership with Netball SA as Official Wellness Partner to the national netball team, the SPAR Proteas. The three-year sponsorship will see Discovery playing a leading role in the team’s holistic wellbeing – including their physical, mental and financial wellness.

Firoze Bhorat, Discovery’s Chief Marketing Officer comments, “Netball is an incredibly important sport in the context of South Africa. People may not realise it is the number one sport played by women in the country and ranks as the second most popular of all sports (behind football) above the age of 13. With over 4,7 million followers, netball is also ranked as a top 10 spectator sport overall, with consistent growth in interest among both adults and juniors over the past decade.

“As such a widely played sport, we hope to contribute to promoting an excellent national team, but critically of course in line with our purpose of encouraging people to lead healthier lives, seek to encourage people of all ages, to get and stay active,” he added.

Cecilia Molokwane, President, Netball SA says: “We are thrilled to partner with a world-class, innovative brand like Discovery whose support will enable us to take player wellbeing, and the sport of netball, to new heights. This announcement sees the collective utilisation of the power of sport to engage and inspire women and girls to get active and live healthier lives.”

The Netball World Cup 2023 comes to African shores

The Discovery Group also announced Vitality’s sponsorship of the Netball World Cup. The Vitality Netball World Cup (VNWC2023) will be held for the first time in Africa in the tournament’s 60-year history. The highly anticipated event, which takes place every four years, will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August 2023, with South Africa hosting 15 teams from around the world.

“We’re thrilled to play a role in hosting the most prestigious event of a sport that’s so loved, both locally and around the world,” said Discovery’s Chief Marketing Officer, Firoze Bhorat.

“Netball is ranked among the top five sports played across all population groups and boasts over two million active participants in South Africa.

“The SPAR Proteas are ranked first in Africa, and fifth in the world. This makes them a high-performing team we’re proud to work with in the build-up to the Netball World Cup 2023 and beyond – particularly in what is set to be a landmark year for women’s sport.”

Bhorat added, “As always at Discovery, we remain focused on inspiring South Africans to get more active. This year, we aim to lend support not just to the talented athletes of our national team, but also more broadly to promote the most popular sport for women in the country.

“Given the inequity of sponsorship in sport, this is a deliberate indication of our support for women in sport. We believe that through the sport of netball we will be able to inspire South African women and girls to live more active, healthier lives by playing the sport they love.”

Priscilla Masisi, Tournament Director for the VNWC2023, is equally excited about the news and expressed her gratitude for the continued support of Vitality.

"It takes sponsors like Vitality to deliver a successful Netball World Cup, and we appreciate them coming on board along with our other premium partners - SPAR and Telkom."

Claire Briegal, CEO, World Netball added: “We are thrilled to have Vitality on board as the title partner for our pinnacle event once again. This is a special and significant time, not just for the host, South Africa, but also for the African continent, as it will be the first Netball World Cup to be held in Africa.”

“Vitality, part of the Discovery Group, has been an amazing partner and supporter of the growth of domestic and international netball and their programmes have created real impact at both grass roots and elite levels.

“It is fantastic that they will now be able to help us continue to create better lives through netball as they become our title partners for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023.

“World Netball would like to thank Vitality for their continued support in helping us to grow, play and inspire.”

The last Netball World Cup was held in 2019 in Liverpool, England, with New Zealand taking home top honours. This year, South Africa is set to play in Pool C with Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka. Phase 2 of ticket sales for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 go on sale on 10 February and can be purchased via the official tournament website: https://nwc2023.org.za/.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

Captured in the image is Discovery Chief Marketing Officer, Firoze Bhorat and Head of Vitality Marketing, Celeste Williams with the Spar Proteas netball team.