Over four hundred guests attended the 2019 Sports Industry Awards held at the new Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk. The gala evening celebrated the best sporting achievements in the UAE over the last twelve months. The event rewarded the region’s leaders, facilities and organisations for their successes and continued development of sport.
Winners picked up awards across 17 categories after being selected following a rigid selection process by a panel of 14 of the region’s sports experts. Over 150 entries were registered across all the categories. Opening the evening, Sport 360 Managing Director Bassam Nawfal addressed the attendees, saying: “We would not be here without the incredible support of our loyal sponsors, who believe in us, but more importantly, who believe in you and in the power of sport.” Nawfal also took time to thank the sponsors of the event – Lacoste, TAG Heuer, YouGov Sport (SMG Insight), The New York Times, AGTV along with various partners, suppliers and judges.
Top venue: SPIA2019 was the first event at the new Coca-Cola Arena
Gold awards were picked up by ON Running Middle East in the Sports Brand Activation category, Bounce was victorious in the Best Indoor Sport & Leisure Offering and the Juventus Football Academy walked away with the award for Best Sports Youth Academy or Organisation of the Year.
Mohammed Lajam and Fabrizio Puglisi, Chairman & CEO of FFG Sports Management LLC, accepted the award for the Juventus Football Academy.
Mohammed Lajam:“We are very proud to win the award, this is the result of our hard work. The team always comes first and since we started the project in Dubai four years ago we’ve come a very long way.’’
Fabrizio Puglisi: ‘’The Al Masaood Group has been very supportive of the Academy in Abu Dhabi and now we’ll set new goals to achieve.” Puglisi dedicated the award to the late Silvio Cattaneo, First President and co-founder of the Juventus OFC UAE.
All SPIA2019 Winners
Sports Youth Academy or Organization of the Year: Juventus Football Academy (Gold). Zayed Sports City Academy (Silver)
Best Amateur Sports Event of the Year: ITU Daman World Triathlon Abu Dhabi – Worldsport Arabia (Gold). du Tough Mudder – IMG (Silver) ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2018 – Abu Dhabi Sports Council (Bronze)
Best Indoor Sport & Leisure Offering: Bounce Middle East (Gold). Dubai Sports World (Silver)
Best Integrated Sports Marketing Campaign of the Year: Mubadala World Tennis Championship – Flash Entertainment (Gold). Formula 1 2018 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit (Silver)
Best Live Experience at a Professional Sports Event: Mubadala World Tennis Championship (Gold). Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA (Silver)
Best Sponsorship of a Sport, Sports Event or Sports Team: du Football Championships/du La La Liga HPC/ du Talents – du (Gold). Al Ahly SC – Umbro (Silver)
Best Sport & Recreation Facility of the Year: Zayed Sports City (Gold). Abu Dhabi Cricket Club (Silver)
Best Sports CSR Initiative of the Year: GEMS Sports Series – ESM (Gold). Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Future Champions League – ADIB (Silver) Emirates NBD Unity Run 2018 – Emirates NBD/Fitt Group ME (Bronze)
Best Sports Organiser of the Year: Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management (Gold). Ultimate Athletics UAE (Silver)
Best Use of PR in Sport: FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2018 – Action Global Communications/Flash Entertainment (Gold). Mubadala World Tennis Championship – Flash Entertainment (Silver)
Best Use of Social Media in Sport: Formula 1 2018 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit (Gold). Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA – Abu Dhabi Sports Council (Silver)
Best Youth Development Project of the Year: GEMS Education and ESM Sports Development Programme – ESM/GEMS Education (Gold). Zayed Sports City Academy (Silver)
Sports Brand of the Year: Nike (Gold). Skechers (Silver)
Sports Brand, Retail or Product Activation of the Year: ON Running Middle East – Enduro Supply (Gold). FIFA Club World Cup 2018 – Flash Entertainment (Silver)
Sports Business Leader of the Year: Daniel Antonelli (Gold). Hussein Murad (Silver)
Sports Event Supplier of the Year: Flow Air & Power Solutions (Gold). Nielsen Sports & Entertainment (Silver)
Sports F&B Venue of the Year: Sailors Restaurant & Cafe (Gold). Kickers Sports Bar (Silver)
