New awards for the Irish sports industry

The shortlist for the first Irish Sports Industry Awards was announced this morning.

The awards were created by the Federation of Irish Sport and are being sponsored by a range of businesses. The 11-strong judging panel comes from the worlds of media, medicine and business.

Awards Ambassador, Bernard Brogan said: “As President of the Federation of Irish Sport, I am delighted to be associated with and serve as a brand ambassador for the inaugural sports industry awards. The Irish Sports Industry is crying out for an award scheme that recognises the contribution sport makes to the economic life of Ireland. Too often sport is seen as simply a hobby or past time. The reality is that it is much much more.”

With 12 categories in all, the awards span the world of sport, with nominees from relatively new companies like Kitman Labs, to long-running events such as the SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon.

Federation of Irish Sport’s Conn McCluskey said: “There was a gap in the market in highlighting the sports industry in Ireland. The awards highlight the industry as it exists around sport in Ireland, it’s an industry than generates €2.4 billion for the Irish economy.”

Approximately 150 nominations were received which the judging panel, chaired by Matt Cooper of Today FM, whittled down to the announced shortlist.  The winners will be announced next week at a ceremony on Thursday night in Smock Alley Theatre.

The only category with an international focus, Best Global Sports Campaign has just two entries on the shortlist: #thisgirlcan and Pure Sport - SKINS.

Of SKINS’ vocal campaign for drug-free sport, owner and sports ethics campaigner Jamie Fuller recently told the Irish Examiner: “The values of our company are shaped around the true nature of competition, and anything that impacts on that, we feel an obligation to speak out.”

In the Established Sport Business category, which was open to any business that’s been in operation for at least five years, employs more than 10 people and has a turnover greater than €500,000, the shortlisted nominees are: McSport (online sports retailer), Statsports (GPS units for sport) and Teamer (team coordination tool).

For newer businesses, in operation between one and five years, there is the Emerging Sport Business category.  Nominees in this category are: GourmetFuel (Nutrition consultants and caterers), KitmanLabs (Sports Science researchers and analysis solutions) and Nutritics (Nutritional Analysis Software).

The next categories are recognising excellence in sporting events.  The Best Mass Participation Event shortlist is: Kellogg’s GAA Cul Camps, Run in the Dark and SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon.  The Best International Sports Event shortlist is: Croke Park Classic, ICC World Twenty 20 Qualifier- Cricket Ireland, SSE Airtricity Dublin Marathon.

Next up is the Best Activation of a Sport Sponsorship with the shortlisted nominees being: AIG & PSG Sponsorship - Dublin GAA, Continental Tyres FAI Women’s League and Vodafone National Series - Triathlon Ireland.

An undoubtedly highly competitive category is that of Best Sports Facility which produced a shortlist of: DCU Sport, Fota Island Resort and the National Sports Campus.

Fota Island Resort Marketing Manager Seamus Leahy said: “Any time you’re nominated you’re always delighted. We put a lot of work into it over the last few years so it’s great to see the recognition of that.”

Excellence in Media Coverage shortlist covers print, radio and online, the nominees are: Business of Sport - Sunday Business Post, Off the Ball and the42.ie.

The Best Use of Social Media has the longest shortlist of all the categories as it had both the most entries. The nominees are: Cabinteely FC, Cricket Ireland #backinggreen, Great Dublin Bike Ride - TITAN, IRFU #shouldertoshoulder, LGFA #bethediff.

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative in Sport features teams, clubs and charities; the nominees are: eir-Special Olympics Ireland team, FAI-IPB Late Night Leagues, GAA Healthy Clubs, IRFU & Pieta House.

Local sports clubs also have their own dedicate category in the form of Best Sports Club, this year’s nominees are: Castleblaney Faughs GFC. Glanmire Basketball Club and Wicklow Swimming Club.

Best Innovation in Sports shortlist includes events, a crowdfunding site and a news site: Jumping in the City - Horse Sport Ireland, Pledgesports, Sportswomen.ie.

Founder of sportswomen.ie, Sharon Hutchinson said: "I’m delighted with the nomination, I’m a bit surprised to make the shortlist as I’ve only been setup since January so this nomination is great PR."