The outstanding performers covering marketing, PR, sponsorship, advertising, community investment and mass participation sport joined the winners of the three judges’ awards as the toast of a room filled with 1 200 key figures from the industry and a host of top celebrities.

The star performer of the night was Absa, with the bank rewarded for its sponsorship of both the Absa Premiership and the Absa Springboks, as well as securing the awards for best use of digital communications in sport and best TV sport commercial for its outstanding ‘Team of Millions’ Rugby World Cup campaign. Joining Absa on the stage as the stand-out performers of the last 12 months were SASOL, Telkom, the DHL Stormers, SuperSport, SAB, sports agency Exp and the Comrades Marathon.

Two sporting legends and one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs were also acclaimed. Gary Player received the Johnnie Walker lifetime achievement award as the latest prize in a stellar career both on and off the golf course. Oscar Pistorius, the multi-Paralympic champion and fighter for social inclusion, was named the winner of SuperSport outstanding contribution to South African sport for his efforts in 2011, while Carol Weaving was named Virgin Active entrepreneur of the year.

Celebrity guests including Heyneke Meyer, Lucas Radebe, Kerry McGregor, Mark Fish, Doctor Khumalo, Neil McKenzie, Juan de Jongh, Ryan Sandes, Elana Meyer, Shashi Naidoo, Butch James, Roxy Louw, CJ Van Der Linde and many more rubbed shoulders with key figures from across the industry at the glamorous black-tie annual event – the number one opportunity for the biggest players in the sport market to come together, network and celebrate their achievements amongst peers.

This year, more than 130 entries to the awards went through a rigorous two-stage judging process scrutineered at all times by the Official Independent Adjudicators, Deloitte, with some of the biggest and most respected names in sport involved as Judges.

Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2012 winners:

Best Sponsorship of a Sport Event or Competition
Sponsored by 26 Degrees South
Absa – Absa Premiership

Best Sponsorship of a Sport Team or Individual
Sponsored by Neo Africa
Absa – Absa Springboks

Best Use of PR in a Sport Campaign
Sponsored by Peermont Hotels, Casinos &amp Resorts
SASOL – SASOL Banyana Banyana

The Virgin Unite Community Programme Award
Telkom – Telkom Rural Splash ‘Learn To Swim’

Best Use of Digital Communications in Sport
Absa – Absa Springbok ‘Team of Millions’

Best TV Sport Commercial
Sponsored by True Colour
Absa – Absa Springbok ‘Team of Millions’

Virgin Atlantic Best Business Performance by a Sport Team
DHL Stormers

Sport Brand of the Year
Sponsored by Repucom
SuperSport

Best Integrated Sport Marketing Campaign
Sponsored by Prosport International
SAB – Carling Black Label ‘Be the Coach’

Sport Agency of the Year
Sponsored by Gallo Images
Exp (South Africa)

Sport Participation Event of the Year
Comrades Marathon

Judges’ Awards:

Virgin Active Entrepreneur of the Year
Carol Weaving

SuperSport Outstanding Contribution to South African Sport
Oscar Pistorius

Johnnie Walker Lifetime Achievement Award
Gary Player