Key WP Rugby sponsors nominated for awards
The official shortlist includes campaigns and brands from 10 different sporting codes – including rugby, football, cricket, mixed martial arts, cycling, athletics, basketball, and triathlon – with the winners set to be announced at a star-studded ceremony at Sandton Convention Centre on February 11, 2016.
adidas, for so long the technical sponsors of WP Rugby, lead the pack with nine nominations across a variety of categories – including the ground-breaking DHL Stormers Mother’s Day campaign (see more HERE), closely followed by Nedbank with six, Vodacom with five, CSA with four while SARU, EFC, Absa, and Standard Bank secured three nominations each.
WP Rugby’s naming sponsors, DHL, have also been nominated, in the Best African Sponsorship and Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport categories for the inspiring Africa as One campaign, with adidas amongst their ‘opponents’ in the latter category.
Key industry figures gathered at independent adjudicator Deloitte’s offices in Johannesburg for hours of intensive judging across two days to produce a shortlist representing the very best that the South African sport industry has to offer. This year’s record number of entries led to comprehensive analysis and debate during the judging process, which was overseen by Deloitte to ensure absolute transparency.
The Discovery Sport Industry Awards reward the greatest achievements across the entire business of sport, including the most outstanding and innovative work in marketing, PR, advertising, community investment and sponsorship.
With higher entry numbers and an increasing quality of work year-on-year, reaching the shortlist for the Discovery Sport Industry Awards 2016 represents a stellar achievement.
Discovery Sport Industry Awards judge Ingrid Lotze said: “Changes to this year’s Discovery Sport Industry Awards categories are significant, exciting and great for the industry. I’m particularly looking forward to next year’s submissions as the changes settle in and more organisations realise that their work is accolade worthy.
“For 2015 we saw many solid, best practice submissions and it gives me the distinct impression that in general, sponsorship is showing rewards for the teams, the brands and everyone touched by the sports.
“Our challenge as judges is to find exemplary campaigns in various categories. The accolades go to memorable, creative, innovative campaigns that clearly demonstrate best practice, creativity and tangible benefit to the business. Compared to last year there is an inspiring dedication to keep raising the bar. We continue to have world class campaigns that serve as pillars of excellence and sources of learning.”
James Monteith, Managing Director of the Sport Industry Group SA added: “The Awards continue to break records year on year. This year has seen the highest number of entries yet, with impressive results and creative work displayed across the board.
“The official shortlist for 2016 was chosen from hundreds of world-class and innovative entries, and shows how the industry is continuing its impressive upward trend, whilst reflecting the tenacity of the industry.”
The nominees listed below will now eagerly await the announcement of the winners in each category at the most respected and prestigious sport industry event in Africa. Each year the Discovery Sport Industry Awards ceremony attracts more than 1,200 guests, including sportsmen and celebrities such as Lucas Radebe, Cameron van der Burgh, Hashim Amla, Marcel Desailly, Heyneke Meyer, Shashi Naidoo, Jacques Rudolph, Elana Meyer, Neil McKenzie, Kerry McGregor, Jomo Sono, Roxy Louw, Butch James, Nicole Flint, Mark Fish, Doctor Khumalo, Natalie du Toit, CJ van der Linde and many more.
DISCOVERY SPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2016 – OFFICIAL SHORTLIST:
(WP Rugby sponsors/partners in bold)
TV Sport Commercial of the Year:
Absa/Barclays – Play Your Greatest Game
CSA – ProteaFire
Nedbank – Nedbank Ke Yona Team Captain – Sydney Masana
SARU – Home Ground Advantage Launch
SuperSport – Rugby World Cup 2015
Vodacom – Vodacom Game Changers ‘Scout’
Best African Sponsorship:
AfrAsia Bank – Mauritius Open
DHL – Africa as One
Castle Lager & FC Barcelona – Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds
Gem Diamonds – Kalahari Challenge 2015
Safaricom – Kenyan Athletics Series
SportPesa – Kenyan Premier League
Best New Sponsorship:
Audi – Audi Proteas
Citadel – Citadel Sponsorship of Jean de Villiers
Dimension Data – Absa Cape Epic
Engen – Engen Cycle in the City
FNB – Cape Town 12 ONERUN
Huawei – #SayMyName
Standard Bank – IRONMAN Never Stop Moving Forward
Sport Development Programme of the Year:
CONNECT Khayelitsha Sports Academy
KNVB World Coaches Programme South Africa
Nashua Ltd – The Art of Fast Bowling
SA Rugby Legends – Vuka Rugby
SuperSport – Let’s Play Physical Education Challenge
The Sports Trust – Multipurpose Sport Court
Sport Brand of the Year, Sponsored by Tsogo Sun:
adidas
Comrades Marathon
EFC Worldwide
NBA
The Proteas
Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport:
adidas – Stormers Mother’s Day
CSA – #ProteaFire
DHL – Africa as One
EFC
SARU – Springboks Home Ground Advantage
Vodacom – Soccer USSD
Sponsorship of the Year, Sponsored by the Solutions Team:
Absa – Absa Cape Epic
adidas – Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon
adidas – Orlando Pirates
Nedbank – Nedbank Cup
Standard Bank – IRONMAN – Never Stop Moving Forward
Vodacom – Vodacom Bulls
Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign:
Absa – #ProudlyAfrican
adidas – Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon ‘Haile Gebresalassie’
CSA – #ProteaFire
KFC – KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour
Nedbank – Nedbank Cup Football Fan Fashion
Vodacom – Vodacom SupeRugby FanUp
Sport Participation Event of the Year:
Absa Cape Epic
Comrades Marathon
Hyundai Rock the Run
Nedbank Tour de Tuli
Standard Bank IRONMAN
The Color Run
Best Integrated Sport Marketing Campaign:
adidas – Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon
adidas – Orlando Pirates
Coca-Cola Comrades Marathon – Active Healthy Living
KFC – Join the Proteas Family
Nedbank – Ke Yona Team Draft
Vodacom – SupeRugby
Best Live Experience, Sponsored by the Sandton Convention Centre:
EFC – EFC 37
Jaguar – Simola Hillclimb 2015
Nedbank – Nedbank Cup Final
Red Bull – X-Fighters 2015
takealot.com – Cape Town 10s
The Color Run
Creative Activation of the Year:
adidas – All Blacks Activation
adidas – Ultra Boost Launch
Castle Lager – Castle Lager Rugby Superfan Experience
Powerade – ION4 Sweat Session
SARU – Springboks Home Ground Advantage
SuperSport – RWC Evolution of Broadcast
Toyota – Toyota Day
Sport Agency of the Year, Sponsored by Gallo Images:
Brand Inc Creative Group
EXP
Frontiers Sport and Entertainment
Levergy
MSCSports
Octagon
Openfield
Playmakers
Repucom
TheGrind PR
* Tables at the Discovery Sport Industry Awards ceremony, to be held at Sandton Convention Centre on February 11, 2016, are on sale now.
** Official Partners and Suppliers of the Discovery Sport Industry Awards include Castle Lager, Deloitte, Gallo Images, and Tsogo Sun.
*** Join the conversation at @SportIndustrySA and #DSIA.
