Women’s sport has been the hottest property in 2021, so we decided to go to the hottest new venue in Johannesburg, to announce the gsport Top 10 Newsmakers of 2021, and the Radisson RED Hotel delivered in some style.
Known as one of Joburg’s most Instagrammable venues, it provided a dream setting for #GAL2021 attendees to take the most exquisite photos which were posted extensively across social media.
The Angel Wings at the front of the hotel, which signifies fierce female leadership, got tons of traffic as women owned their success in powerful poses on a glorious day in Johannesburg.
With it being Covid-19 times, the guest list was kept tight, with only newsmakers, selected media and gsport partners in attendance and what a power gathering it was. It is gsport’s mission that every woman in sport gets to attend one of our events at least once.
Every woman in sport should attend a @gsport4girls event at least once. I hope those who got to experience their first time yesterday enjoyed rubbing shoulders with our leading #GAL2021 Newsmakers 🙌 pic.twitter.com/iekYIfhrQm
— Kass Naidoo (@KassNaidoo) December 2, 2021
VIPs included Group Chief Marketing Officer of Momentum Metropolitan, Nontokozo Madonsela, SASCOC COO, Patience Shikwambana, Acting CEO of Brand South Africa, Sithe Ntombela, Mail and Guardian CEO, Hoosain Karjiker, and Mamelodi Sundowns Board member, Dr Rejoice Simelane and SABC Sport TV and Radio Sports Anchor, Xoli Zondo.
Group Chief Marketing Officer of @Momentum_za Metropolitan @NontokozoM88 talks to @Lesego_P about increased mainstream media coverage and how we can close the visibility gap. #GAL2021 pic.twitter.com/DofV3SFNiY
— gsport4girls (@gsport4girls) December 1, 2021
#GAL2021 recipients present included SPAR Proteas captain, Bong Msomi, Gauteng Jaguars coach, Jenny van Dyk and captain, Marlize de Bruin, double Wimbledon runner-up, Kgothatso Montjane and 2021 gsport Newsmaker of the Year, Dané van Niekerk.
Maybe one day I will get used to being awarded for doing what I absolutely love doing and what I feel is my responsibility in this world 🙌🏼💖🙏🏼
Thank you once again @gsport4girls, this one is for NETBALL for showing me my purpose in life 🙌🏼💖🙏🏼
God I am forever grateful 🙌🏼💖🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/TUdSZHWUtj
— Bongi Msomi (@BongiweMsomi2) December 1, 2021
To celebrate the achievements of these women’s sport newsmakers, organisers created a pop up women’s sport museum, which included the CAF Women’s Champions League Trophy, the Telkom Netball League Trophy and Thembi Kgatlana’s book.
What an honour to have had amazing sports memorabilia, had the CAF Women’s Champions League trophy, the Telkom Netball League trophy and @Kgatlanathe1st book on display in the women’s sport pop up museum at #GAL2021 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/M07dwW8KJ0
— gsport4girls (@gsport4girls) December 2, 2021
From a media perspective, it was great to see eNCA, SuperSport Blitz and Newzroom Afrika, showing support for this growing media event. The media presence created a wonderful buzz as TV anchors interviewed #GAL2021 recipients and shone the spotlight on their incredible achievements this year.
Momentum Proteas captain Dane Van Niekerk has been named the gsport Newmaker of the year, she was among 10 other athletes celebrated for the hard work they put in on the field this year's @gsport4girls #GAL2021. @TumiKgasoe has the story.
Tune into #Newzroom405 for more. pic.twitter.com/0RqiktyRwQ
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 1, 2021
The event was hosted by dynamic Newzroom Afrika sports anchor, Tumi Kgasoe, who owned the stage as she announced the #GAL2021 recipients and her interview with Van Niekerk about closing the visibility gap was spot on!
Introducing our MC for #GAL2021 @Newzroom405 Sports Anchor and #gsport16 Woman in Television finalist @TumiKgasoe talking to @Lesego_P about what it means to host the third edition of SA’s only women’s sport newsmakers. pic.twitter.com/DV23EadTVl
— gsport4girls (@gsport4girls) December 1, 2021
Our online community is so important to us, so it was great to have 2021 Momentum gsport Awards Woman in Social Media winner, Lesego Pooe, as the #GAL2021 social media host, and she ensured our platforms buzzed throughout the event.
A huge thank you to @gsport4girls for awarding me the opportunity to be your social media host for this years #GAL2021
Let’s close the visibility gap and play our part in covering women in sports, extensively so. Let it be the norm. pic.twitter.com/xYYdrioOnT
— Lesego Pooe International (@Lesego_P) December 3, 2021
Reflecting on where this all started… It was back in December 2019 when was decided to announce 10 Newsmakers of the Year to see how far we have come as women’s sport and what more needed to happen to close the visibility gap.
It led to a renewed energy in the gsport team as we committed to telling at least one positive story a day even though Covid-19 then went on to shut down live sport in March 2020.
The team soldiered on and when we hosted #GAL2020 last year, and saw what it meant to women in sport, we decided to be even more intentional about increasing media coverage. The gsport newsroom currently averages 120 stories per month and around 20 monthly newsmakers, resulting in hundreds of candidates for the annual event.
This year, with Momentum and Telkom on board the gsport Newsroom, we decided it was time to roll out the red carpet and put up some branding to honour increased corporate support for news coverage of women’s sport which is contributing to closing the visibility gap.
The success of the gsport Annual List is built on the commitment to positive daily story telling by the gsport newsroom at gsport.co.za while we continue to keep up the momentum across social media @ gsport4girls.
Join the gsport movement to raise the profile of women’s sport!
Photo Caption: Celine Abrahams, gsport’s Content Lead, pictured at the powerful Angel Wings sculpture installation at the Radisson Red Hotel Rosebank, on Wednesday, 1 December, 2021, where the 2021 gsport Annual List of 10 most prominent Newsmakers were announced at an intimate event, and where international cricket star Dané van Niekerk was unveiled as the overall Newsmaker for the year. Photo: gsport
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