Official Shortlist announced for the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2013.

The Sport Industry Group is delighted to unveil the Official Shortlist for the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2013.

After a rigorous judging process involving key figures from across the industry  – fully overseen by Deloitte, the Official Adjudicators of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards to ensure absolute transparency and impartiality – the list of nominees represents the best the industry had to offer in 2012.

With a record number of campaigns, brands, teams and events carefully considered by this year’s steering committees, reaching the shortlist in 2012 represents a stellar achievement.

Last weekend’s Currie Cup finalists are amongst the list, with The Sharks nominated for the coveted Virgin Atlantic Best Business Performance by a Sports Team Award – where they will face off against Orlando Pirates and the Vodacom Blue Bulls. Meanwhile, DHL’s work with the Stormers received three nominations across two categories, in addition to a shortlisting for the logistics company’s work with Manchester United on the English club’s pre-season tour to South Africa.

A number of other leading brands have also secured multiple places on the list, with Vodacom and SARU collectively securing nominations across five categories, as well as Powerade, Nedbank and SuperSport securing nominations across three.

Ross Faragher-Thomas, Managing Director at Virgin Active, commented: “Over the last three years, when many expected the sport industry to shrink in the aftermath of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards have proved it is a sector going from strength to strength. Both the number and quality of entries continue to increase year on year and Virgin Active are proud to be part of such a dynamic and exciting industry, which works so hard for the success of South African sport.”

Nick Keller, the Chairman of the Sport Industry Group, added: “We have seen some phenomenal campaigns honoured at the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards, and when the industry comes together on 7th February 2013 we will once again be celebrating a fantastic year for the SA sports business. With this year attracting a record number of entries, being named on the Official Shortlist for the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards is a great achievement in itself.”

The winners will be announced at the star-studded Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards ceremony on Thursday 7th February 2013, once again being held at Emperors Palace, Johannesburg. Don’t miss out –  book your table today at http://www.sportindustry.co.za/awards

Official Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2013 Shortlist

Best Integrated Sport Marketing Campaign

• Nedbank – Nedbank Cup
• Powerade – Train Like An Olympian
• SARU – Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens 2011
• Shield – Springboks Rugby World Cup Campaign
• SuperSport – SuperSport Olympics 2012
• Vodacom – Vodacom Super Rugby ‘SuperGees’

Best TV Sport Commercial

sponsored by Sports Illustrated

• Absa – John Smit T–Shirt
• Nedbank – Rethink Ability
• SARU – Absa Currie Cup ‘Cup of Heroes’
• SuperSport – SuperSport PGA Tour Launch
• SuperSport – SuperSport Olympics ‘Oscar’
• Vodacom – Vodacom Rugby ‘SuperGees’
• Vodacom – Vodacom Soccer PSL ‘Ma Alpha’

Virgin Atlantic Best Business Performance by a Sport Team

• Orlando Pirates
• The Blue Bulls
• The Sharks

Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport

• DHL – DHL Stormers Digital Video Magazine
• DHL – DHL Stormers
• Vodacom – Vodacom Shosholoza

Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual

sponsored by True Colour Events

• Absa – Absa Bafana Bafana
• adidas – adidas sponsorship of Orlando Pirates
• DHL – DHL Stormers
• Powerade – Powerade Performance Tracker ‘The Proteas’
• Shield – Shield sponsorship of the Springboks
• 36One – Team 36One–Songo–Specialized
• Toyota – Toyota Freestate Cheetahs

Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition

sponsored by Twenty Six Degrees South

• Absa – Absa Cape Epic
• DHL – Manchester United Tour 2012
• MTN – MTN8 Wafa Wafa
• Nedbank – Nedbank Cup
• Sunfoil – Sunfoil Test Series
• Vodacom – Vodacom Durban July

Sport Participation Event of the Year

• Bidvest Unity Walk
• Comrades Marathon
• Discovery 702 Walk the Talk
• JP Morgan Corporate Challenge
• Nike Run Free.Run Jozi 10k Race
• Old Mutual joBerg2c

Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign

• Nike – Nike Run Free.Run Jozi 10k Race
• Puma – Puma Shows Love for the Vodacom Bulls
• SAB – Carling Black Label Cup ‘Be The Champion Coach’
• SAIDS – I Play Fair Cape Argus Cycle Tour
• SARU – IRB Junior World Cup 2012
• 36One – Team 36One–Songo–Specialized
• The Sharks – United Against Bullying

Sport Brand of the Year

• EFC Africa
• MTN Lions
• Nike
• Orlando Pirates
• Powerade
• Springboks U20s

The Virgin Unite Community Programme Award

• Chevrolet – Chevrolet High Performance Programme
• FNB – FNB Football First Programme
• Absa/Barclays – Gansbaai Breaking Barriers
• Gauteng Squash – EgoliSquash
• MTN – MTN Qhubeka
• SARU – Vodacom Cup Community Programme ‘Tjovitjo’

Sport Agency of the Year

sponsored by Gallo Images

• Brand inc Sport
• EXP South Africa
• Playmakers Sponsorship