The 2024 gsport Business Breakfast saw the ‘who’s-who’ of the business world rubbing shoulders in the second hosting of the annual event at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Friday, 13 September 2024.
The morning got underway with various athletes and sponsors networking as the two worlds looked to join forces to take women’s sports to greater heights.
Newly-inducted Hall of Famer Mandisa Williams, Nontokozo Madonsela, the Group Chief Marketing Officer at Momentum Group Limited, long-time SA Olympic heroine Penny Heyns, as well as Nthabiseng Motsoeneng, Chief Marketing Officer Africa and Middle East at Pernod Ricard were among the esteemed guests in attendance to open the markets at 9:00am, punctually.
Inverroche is one of the newest partner to back gsport, a fitting match since the iconic women’s sport brand is now legal after celebrating its 18th birthday! The domestic gin brand is a product of Pernod Ricard, and Motsoeneng thrilled to be able to play their part, not only in gsport journey, but for the women in sort as well.
“What this represents is our responsibility to be part of the journey of consciously pioneering but bringing back the people that are championing women’s progress, and that is exactly what our brand Inverroche is all about and that is what we will always support.”
Nthabiseng Motsoeneng, Chief Marketing Officer Africa and Middle East at Pernod Ricard
“Anyone out there who is championing the progress of women, we want to be all about that – especially women from here at home, and giving them as we are doing with our beautiful African brand, Inverroche.”
The growth of women’s sport has been exponential in the past year, and the excitement was palpable as the discussions turned to sponsorship. While there have been great strides made in women’s sport, the commercialisation aspect has been an area that has been somewhat of a vulnerable sport.
Like anything in life, financial security is key to long-term success. Events like the gsport Business Breakfast build on the call for women in sport to be paid to play sport, to prevent the stress of having to still have a full-time job, while simultaneously pursuing their sports careers.
Discussing striking examples in a range of experiences endured by the nation’s women athletes, from the despair of failed opportunities or false promises to the few instances of unimaginable progress, where our ladies are paid professionals, earning a salary and benefits,
Renowned women’s boxing manager and promoter Colleen McAusland is hoping that being at the JSE will garner the necessary funding female boxers so desperately need.
“This is huge for women in sport. We struggle with sponsorships, so hands up to gsport for doing this, it is something that is so needed in women’s sport.”
Boxing Manager and Promoter, Colleen McAusland
“In boxing we struggle to get sponsorships, everything is self-funded while they are changing and breaking boundaries for South Africa,” said McAusland. “Sponsorships are hard to find and it’s still mainly male-dominated, I am hoping that doors are going to be opening via the JSE for boxing and women in sport in general.”
Double Olympian, Michaela Whitebooi is someone who knows just what it means to have to find funding. Judo is known as one of the ‘smaller sports’ that doesn’t have the funding like the so-called bigger codes. She says today’s Business Breakfast is a step in the right direction.
“I am very happy to be at the JSE with these wonderful women celebrating sponsorships and funding. I think it is very important that we get supported and being and the JSE just means there is more growth and gsport is doing wonderful work to show that there is support for women coming up, but we do need more support.”
Double Olympian, Judoka Geronay Michaela Whitebooi
To add to the excitement of the day, it was announced that SABC has signed a contract to broadcast the Momentum gsport Awards live for the next three years. The public broadcaster is again showing their support for women’s sport in the most meaningful way.
The gsport Business Breakfast formed part of a three-day celebration which kicked off on Wednesday which saw former Springbok Women’s captain Mandisa Williams inducted into the gsport Hall of Fame, and Thursday witnessed the swim star extraordinaire Tatjana Smith win the headline honours, when she was unveiled as the Momentum Athlete of the Year at the 2024 Momentum gsport Awards.
Main Photo Caption: The 2024 gsport Business Breakfast saw the who’s-who of the business world rubbing shoulders in the second year the event to be held at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, on Friday, 13 September 2024. All Photos: gsport / Rebecca Hearfield
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