BT SPORT INDUSTRY AWARDS 2018 OPENS FOR ENTRIES
The BT Sport Industry Awards 2018 opens for entries, with sport’s role in social change to be honoured across a number of categories at the star-studded event.
The very best in performance technology, analytics, fan communities, film content, sustainability in sport and diversity and inclusion will all be rewarded. Alongside the brand new categories, all have been refreshed with some previous categories removed altogether.
A returning category is the Community Programme of the Year, open to any organisation with a programme or campaign that benefits the community it serves through sport, and provides business returns. Last year’s winner, Our Parks - Turn Up Tone Up London, provide free exercise classes for all ages and abilities in some of London’s green spaces.
Selected new categories also include:
Diversity and Inclusion Award
This award is open to any professional organisation either within the sport industry, or is using sport as a vehicle, which promotes the diversity and inclusion agenda to improve business performance. This award can be entered by agencies, brands, broadcasters, events, governing bodies, leagues, rights holders, teams, venues and more, for internally or externally-facing work.
Sustainability Initiative of the Year
This award is open to any organisation whose actions have empowered, promoted and embraced environmental sustainability in sport, while positively impacting business results. Be it pioneering new technology, a creative use of existing technology, fighting for a cause or beyond, this award will recognise those who have pushed the boundaries and led the way to prove that real, genuine change can be made through sport. This award can be entered by agencies, arenas, brands, events, governing bodies, leagues, rights holders, teams, venues and more, for internally or externally-facing work.
Returning categories will celebrate the very best from the industry, across agencies, brands, campaigns, community, entertainment experiences, events, governing bodies, influencers, PR, social media and sponsorship.
Speaking of the launch, Nick Keller, chairman, Sport Industry Group, commented: “Our industry is moving at a tremendous pace, with some of the best examples of technology, and its many uses, coming from sport. The new categories will offer a chance to recognise true innovation in our sector.
“In much the same way, sport has a real opportunity to lead in areas that can have a genuinely positive impact and so we’re delighted to feature new awards focusing on sustainability and diversity and inclusion. By celebrating the best in those areas, we hope others will be inspired to integrate some of these lessons into their own work in the future.”
Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with the BT Sport Industry Awards once again. The awards are a fantastic opportunity for the whole industry to celebrate best in class, something that BT Sport is passionate about.”
All the categories, and specific criteria, are available here. Entries are open until 5pm on 30th November and are welcome from any organisation or sector with a valid connection to the sport industry.
The BT Sport Industry Awards Judging Process is one of the most transparent and stringent procedures of its kind with over 60 hours of intensive judging.
Conducted in two stages and all overseen by EY, the process begins with the entries being reviewed and judged by the Official Steering Committee, featuring figureheads and industry heavyweights, to produce the Official Shortlist.
The BT Sport Industry Awards Judging Panel will then decide the final winner of each category announced at the BT Sport Industry Awards 2018 - the most prestigious commercial sports awards in Europe. To find out more about the extensive judging process, click here.
Tables are also available for the black-tie event on 26th April 2018 with prices frozen for all packages. Find out more here.
For more information on the event visit http://www.sportindustry.biz/awards, and follow @SportIndustry #BTSIA.