What do the SPAR gsport Awards and the 2010 FIFA World Cup have in common? The one is the biggest sports event in the world and the other has an audience of about 200 people. They both used the same events management company, that’s what!
(Click here to read the 2014 SPAR gsport Awards winners release, click here to read the post-event review and watch highlights of the event)
Worldwide Sports have been operating for 18 years. While they offer a wide range of services, their main focus is sports marketing, branding and signage.
Among their clients are the Premier Soccer League and Cricket South Africa – two hefty clients for any sports management company – but the cherry on the cake was working on the World Cup in South Africa.
“We did all the branding and signage for the Confederation Cup and the World Cup,” said Worldwide Sports Operations Director Jack Davis.
“It was a lot of hard work, and FIFA were not easily satisfied, but it is wonderful to have an event like that on our CV.
“We have done other major events as well, including the 123rd IOC summit meeting in Durban, where the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics was chosen.”
From giants like FIFA, the PSL and the IOC to the gsport Awards seems a massive leap, but Davis said they were very happy to be associated with gsport.
“We got to know about gsport when Kass Naidoo was still working at CSA,” he said.
“Having achieved considerable success, we wanted to give something back to the sports community. gsport4girls seemed ideal. It is a niche product and is absolutely straight down the line. There’s no politics involved – it’s about rewarding and recognising athletes and sports administrators. Nothing more and nothing less.”
He said the work done by gsport was very important.
“We have some outstanding sportswomen in South Africa, but often what they achieve slips under the radar. For instance, until recently, Banyana Banyana were outperforming Bafana Bafana, but they received very little attention.
“There are also superstars like Caster Semenya and Bridgitte Hartley who just don’t get the recognition they deserve. It is sad but true that sportswomen in South Africa often play second fiddle to the men.”
Worldwide Sports came on board with gsport four or five years ago, and have been responsible for the elegant staging of the awards.
“It’s a great event to work on,” said Davis.
“The women get glammed-up – they really make an effort, so everybody feels special on that day.
“I work on a lot of awards ceremonies every year, and I can honestly say that the gsport4girls awards are by far my favourite. Awards ceremonies can be boring – there are always a number of awards that have to be presented, and it can be a very long sit.
“But between Kass’s professional approach, and Anele as MC, the long sit doesn’t seem quite as long.
“Then once the awards are over, the guests can mingle and network, which is such an important aspect. It is wonderful to see so many athletes and sports administrators getting together. The noise level is usually quite high,” he laughed.
“Kass is also very careful about the catering as well – it is always slightly unusual and very elegant. The gsport4girls Awards are always a wonderful occasion where women in sport can celebrate their achievements.”
WWS Senior Operations Manager, Lenah Sithole, presented the Sponsor of the Year Award to ACSA for their ongoing support for wheelchair tennis. It was the first time she had attended the Awards ceremony, and she bubbled over with enthusiasm.
“It was such an adventure,” she said. “Everyone looked so good, it was such good fun, and I loved hearing all about Caster Semenya when Kass talked to her.
“I just loved the whole experience and I was so impressed by all the winners. I think we’ll be working with gsport for a long time to come.”
Photo 1 caption: Worldwide Sports Senior Operations Manager, Lenah Sithole (left), presents the 2014 Sponsor of the Year Award to the Airports Company SA spokesperson, Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, for its ongoing support for wheelchair tennis, at the 2014 SPAR gsport Awards at the Wanderers Club, in Illovo, Johannesburg, on Monday, 24 November, 2014. Photo: Rebecca Hearfield / gsport
Photo 2 caption: Worldwide Sports colleagues Jack Davis and Lenah Sithole share a smile at the 2014 SPAR gsport Awards. Worldwide Sports’ credentials as exclusive branding supplier to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa places gsport on the world stage, with its sponsorship of branding the gsport Awards. Photo: Rebecca Hearfield / gsport
Photo 3 caption: gsport Founder Kass Naidoo delivers her vote of thanks at the conclusion of formalities at the 2014 SPAR gsport Awards. Photo: Rebecca Hearfield / gsport
(With editing by gsport)
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