The 2016 Sports Industry Awards (SPIAs) presented by Cadillac, moved one step closer to honouring the finest in the business when the list of nominees was announced on Monday.
First held in 2012, the SPIAs have become the most definitive awards night in the Middle East. The fourth edition will be held onWednesday, March 23, at JW Marriott Marquis.
As many as 196 submissions were made, with entries coming in from each and every nation in the GCC area, as well as Jordan and Lebanon.
The short-listed candidates had to go through a first round of judging process, which will be followed by a more stringent second round 24 hours before the gala dinner. Eighteen of the region’s experts will deliberate over the submissions, with the whole process audited by Deloitte and Touche.
Awards will be given in 14 different categories, including two new ones – Sports Youth Academy or Organisation of the Year, and Sports Brand, Retail or Product Activation of the Year. The new categories proved to be the most popular ones, attracting the most number of entries.
We have been shortlisted for the "Best Outdoor & Recreational Facility" at the @Sport360 #SPIA awards. pic.twitter.com/uRSVKkDjY1
— ICC Academy (@ICCAcademy) March 7, 2016
Talking about the awards and the new categories, Didier Brun, Publisher and Deputy CEO, Sport360, said: “The SPIAs, now in its fourth edition, is a unique platform to showcase and reward the ambitions and achievements of the sports industry in the region.
“Our objective is not only to grow the concept of the awards year on year, but also ensure that these awards stay credible and continue to innovate to keep pace with this fast changing industry.”
Cadillac are involved with SPIAs for the second year, and Nadim Ghrayeb, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, said the association worked very well with his company’s philosophy.
The first year of our involvement was very good and the thing we greatly enjoyed was the strong mix of business people and sports. I know it is a sports award, but there are so many industries involved. Sports is a growing industry in the region…there is the health trend, the facilities trend… and we are happy to be a part of it,” said Ghrayeb.
“For all these various people and industries that come together for sporting events, there is a key essential for each of these stakeholders, and that is passion. And passion is a word that defines us at Cadillac as well. Whether it is in designing our cars, or in how we interact with our customers, we are passionate about our job, so that is the synergy we see with being part of an event like SPIA.”
Only a few tables are left for the gala dinner. The event has been a sell-out in its first three years and is guaranteed to sell out again. For further information on how to become a part of the event, visit www.spia.ae or contact Lawrence Harradine on +971 558217373, or email[email protected]
Apart from Cadillac, the SPIAs are sponsored by Emirates Airline, Dubai Sports City and Lacoste.
