The winners of the 17th edition of the SPORSORA Sports Marketing Awards were revealed during a 100% digital ceremony, in an innovative format presented by Carine GALLI on the set of LA CHAÎNE L’EQUIPE. The Jury, chaired by Tony Parker, awarded 6 prizes, including a “coup de coeur”. While the actors of the sport have been particularly affected by the health crisis of Covid-19 in 2020, SPORSORA wanted all the applications to compete in a single category and present committed, innovative and responsible projects.
With no less than 60 applications, the members of the jury from the sports economy sector (companies, rights holders, agencies and service providers, start-ups, athletes) have chosen Winwin Afrique and its “AGORA Program” among the 6 winners. The program was awarded for the construction of local sports infrastructures for education, culture, health and employment of young people in Africa, involving in particular the members of the France Export Team.
This development program saw the light of day in December 2019 with the inauguration of the first AGORA in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in the presence of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. Despite the health crisis, 10 other AGORAs will be opened in Abidjan and the rest of Côte d’Ivoire by 2022. The infrastructure, built entirely from recycled containers, serves local populations and working-class neighborhoods. Allowing the practice of sports for all (schools, individuals, clubs) with social rates, the AGORA also provides access to other essential services such as libraries, grocery stores, screening centers and many others. With the help of social and private partners, AGORA is self-financing to maintain the facility and invest in other facilities and services. An innovative model in terms of its structure and financing.
Régis CHARPENTIER, President of Winwin Afrique:
It is an honor for Winwin Afrique to receive this distinction. Since the beginning, this project has had the objective of using sport as a development tool to deal with subjects such as social innovation, sustainable and economic development in working class areas. Being Sporsora laureates on the theme “Committed, innovative and responsible projects” confirms that we are right. Today, the program is expanding and duplicating itself in Côte d’Ivoire as well as in the rest of West Africa. We hope that this showcase will allow us to reach and sensitize advertisers wishing to join an innovative and committed approach like ours.
Olivier DULANC, President of SPORSORA:
Congratulations to the winners and to Winwin Afrique who, through their model, illustrate magnificently the strength that the actors of sport show in reinventing themselves through innovation with a strong sense of social and environmental commitment. The AGORA program is a beautiful example of innovation that sport can bring.
Tony Parker, President of the Jury:
I have always been convinced of the capacity of sport to have a social impact and an important role to play in society. The proposed candidatures and in particular that of Winwin Afrique show that sport can be a vector of economic development and social innovation. I hope that it will be a source of inspiration.