Wednesday 18 October 2000
sportscotland, the national agency responsible for the development of sport in Scotland, is delighted to announce the launch of the Inaugural sportscotland Sponsorship Awards. The awards are designed to acknowledge and reward the very best in sport sponsorship at all levels throughout Scotland, plus promote the unique benefits sponsorship can offer both business and sport.
Aileen Simpson, sportscotland Head of Commercial Development, said: "We appreciate the significant additional resource sponsorship provides for Scottish sport, we also recognise the benefits sport can offer as an effective vehicle for business development. With this in mind we wish to promote the Inaugural sportscotland Sponsorship Awards as a means to reward the best in sport sponsorship in Scotland and to demonstrate good practice within the industry."
Invitations to participate in the Awards are now being extended to companies and organisations throughout Scotland whether they are involved in local community sponsorships or committed to national or professional sports deals valued at more than £1,000,000. The range of award categories ensures every sport sponsorship is eligible to apply for a sportscotland Sponsorship Award. In addition, an overall winner will carry the title of “sportscotland Sponsorship of the Year”.
The closing date for nominations is 26 January 2001 when an expert panel of judges chaired by Ian Robson, sportscotland Chief Executive, and including Alan Ferguson (Managing Director, The Sports Business), Sandra Greer (Research Director, S.Comm Research Ltd), Denise West (Managing Director, Scottish Business Insider) and others to be announced, will decide which nominations best meet the awards criteria. The awards will be presented at the end of March 2001 when all shortlisted nominees will be invited to attend a gala dinner and presentation evening. (Tickets may also be purchased).
In assessing the nominations, the Panel will consider what the sponsor’s objectives were in undertaking the sponsorship, how the sponsorship was exploited in order to meet these objectives and how it was monitored and evaluated.
The Inaugural sportscotland Sponsorship Awards are being supported by Sportsmatch, the business sponsorship incentive scheme for sport, and First Press Publishing.
Guidelines and Nomination Forms can be obtained from sportscotland offices in Edinburgh or by telephoning 0131 317 7200.
Further information The Inaugural sportscotland Sponsorship Awards contain eight award categories, as detailed below. A sponsored project can be nominated for more than one category and there is no restriction on the number of nominations made by any one organisation or sponsor.
· Best sponsorship in 2000 with a fee of less than £50,000 per annum.
· Best sponsorship in 2000 with a fee for £50,000 or up to and including £100,000 per annum.
· Best sponsorship in 2000 with a fee for more than £100,000 per annum.
· Best newcomer to sport sponsorship in Scotland.
· Best long-term commitment to sport. (Sponsorship ongoing for at least three years).
· Best sponsorship for young people in sport. (Under 23 years).
· Best community sponsorship in receipt of a Sportsmatch Award.
· sportscotland Sponsorship of the Year (presented to an outstanding sponsorship project selected from the above category winners).