Johannesburg, 3 December 2024: The premier commercial sports showcase on the African continent, the annual Sport Industry Awards, took place yesterday at Vodaworld in Midrand, Johannesburg to showcase excellence within the business of sport over the past year. The 2024 Sport Industry Awards were proudly supported by SAB and TicketPro, two key champions of South African sports.
Agency of the Year T&WSport Industry Awards recognise outstanding campaigns and sponsorships over the past year
Representing the passion and creativity behind some of South Africa's most iconic sporting events, campaigns and sponsorships, these awards celebrate the outstanding, behind-the-scenes accomplishments within the sporting industry.
Winning the sought after accolade of Agency of the Year was specialist sport and entertainment storytelling shop T&W, best known for writing and producing the acclaimed documentary Chasing the Sun and Chasing the Sun.
Chasing the Sun 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed documentary Chasing the Sun, following the Springboks' journey to their 2023 Rugby World Cup victory. It provides an in-depth look at the strategies, challenges, and emotions that defined their campaign, with a focus on the psychological and tactical aspects of their success. The series highlights the pivotal role played by Rassie Erasmus and showcases the team's boldness and preparation, capturing the on-field heroics as well as the cultural and societal impact of the Springboks as a unifying symbol in South Africa.
Initially aired in South Africa on SuperSport, Chasing the Sun is now accessible internationally on Showmax, with availability in numerous countries, including the UK, Australia, and Germany.
T&W's work on Chasing the Sun 2 who also won them Audio Visual Content of the Year Award and Campaign of the Year.
Playmakers took home the Active & Wellbeing AwardPlaymakers, a multi-acclaimed sponsorship marketing management consultancy in the sports and lifestyle arena, took home the Active & Wellbeing Award for the ABSA Run Your City Series, with production company FuturePlay, an agency affiliated with Playmakers, winning The Communications Award for the History in our own words promo for Supersport, creating hype and national enthusiasm ahead of Dricus du Plessis competing in UFC 297. FuturePlay also walked away with the Experiential Marketing Award, which saw Betway offering a risk-free betting opportunity by promising a refund if the Springboks lost the Rugby World Cup Final
Another standout award included Standard Bank South Africa winning Brand or Sponsor of the Year for sparking real change and inspiring South Africa's youth by supporting grassroots sports.
Creative Agency Retroviral won the Social and Environmental Impact Award for their unforgettable social impact drive in partnership with BIC which partnered with Paralympian hero Mpumelelo Mhlongo, to contribute to the education of students in need.
Lions Cricket was recognised as Sport Organisation of the Year Lions Cricket was recognised as Sport Organisation of the Year for their efforts in transformation, sustainability, and community development, along with their commitment to teamwork, innovation, and discipline.
From campaigns that put a spotlight on Dricus Du Plessis being the first South African to win a UFC championship and the Springboks lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a record fourth time in 2023, to mass participation running events, lifesaving, basketball and the promotion of school sports, these awards highlight the broader ecosystem that powers the world of sports.
Tonight's event was attended by high profile industry stakeholders, sports bodies and members of the media, along with prominent personalities from South African sport.
Please see below the full list of 2024 Sport Industry Award winners or go to https://sportindustryawards.co.za/ for more information.
The 2024 Sport Industry Winners
AGENCY OF THE YEAR
T&W
ACTIVE & WELLBEING AWARD
ABSA Run Your City Series - Playmakers
AUDIO VISUAL CONTENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Chasing the Sun 2 - SuperSport, SA Rugby and T&W
BEST ON SOCIAL
Forever Green Forever Gold FGFG- SA Rugby & Black and White Stripes
BRAND OR SPONSOR OF THE YEAR
Standard Bank Schools' Sports Sponsorship - Standard Bank South Africa
CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Chasing the Sun 2 Marketing Campaign - T&W
COMMUNICATIONS AWARD
History in our own words – FuturePlay
EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD.
The 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship and Incoming Series - SA Rugby
EVENT OR COMPETITION SPONSORSHIP AWARD
Vitality Run Series - Discovery Vitality
EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING AWARD
Betway Back the Boks - FuturePlay
FAN ENGAGEMENT AWARD
#bokfriday by Dialogue - SA Rugby - Dialogue Communications
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AWARD
Bic x Mpumelelo - Retroviral & Shaun James Film & Integer
SPORT ORGANISATION OF THE YEAR
Lions Cricket - Central Gauteng Lions
SPORTS PROMO OR ADVERT OF THE YEAR AWARD
Making Dreams Come True - Treble Group, Stephanus Rabie Productions
TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL SPONSORSHIP OF THE YEAR
DHL x Lifesaving South Africa - DHL
TECH INNOVATION AWARD
SuperSport Schools - SuperSport Schools
THE AFRICAN EXCELLENCE (CROSS-BORDER) AWARD
NBA Triple Double Start Up Accelerator Programme - NBA Africa / BAL
