KERWIN NOEMDO - SHOT PUT ATHLETE

ACCELERATE SPORT LAUNCHES ATHLETE MANAGEMENT DIVISION

CAPE TOWN – The company aims to expand its operations to support the ambitions of local athletes.

Accelerate Sport, who are specialists in sport sponsorship, marketing and consultancy, announced on Tuesday that they have launched a full-service athlete management division. The company also announced their first two signings, WSL pro surfer, Bianca Buitendag, and Maties Parasport Sportsman of the Year in 2019, Kerwin Noemdo.

“The launch of our athlete management arm is a new chapter for Accelerate Sport. By leveraging our extensive network, experience and market knowledge, we want to elevate athletes’ careers on and off the field,” said Gary Grant, Managing Director of Accelerate Sport.

The short-term aim of the division will be to assist athletes on their path to the Olympics and Paralympic Games scheduled to be hosted in 2021, as well as working with athletes participating in niche sports. Accelerate’s work will include developing the athletes’commercial partnerships, PR, marketing, including their social media profiles.

“These athletes often struggle to generate the funds needed to take part in high-performance training and competitions. Our goal is to assist them in finding likeminded partners who can support them on their journey so they can focus on winning that gold medal”, Gary added.

Kerwin Noemdo’s track record includes participating in 3 World Para Athletics Championships. He currently holds the national shot put and discus records in all age groups (U/16, U/18, U/20 and Open Men) as well as the African Men’s record in the F46 category.

Bianca Buitendag is currently the highest ranked female surfer in South Africa and former world number four. She’s spent five years on the WSL World Championship Tour and has already qualified as South Africa’s female representative for the 2021 Olympic Games.

About Accelerate Sport

Accelerate Sport and Entertainment is a results-driven marketing agency that focuses on effectively serving the best interest of clients and sponsors. With a collective 70 years of experience in sport and entertainment, Accelerate delivers integrated strategic solutions specialising in sponsorship rights, consultancy, event management, media and public relations.

For further information, please contact:

Media & PR: Katleho Mashego – Accelerate Sport
+27 (0)63 224 0267
katleho@acceleratesport.com
www.acceleratesport.com

City Surf Series - Ian Thurtell 5

City Surf Series Welcomes Thirsti

The City Surf Series heads back to Cape Town for the first time since 2018 in a refreshed event that will see it become the first ever multiple venue surfing tournament on the World Surf League.

In a welcome boost to the City Surf Series and the City of Cape Town, Accelerate Sport have today announced Thirsti Water as the new title sponsor of Cape Town Pro. This will mark the return of the series to the city where it all began back in 2016. As part of the partnership, Thirsti will become the official water across all City Surf Series for 2020.

The City Surf Series is a series of surfing events by Accelerate Sport in collaboration with Surfing South Africa (SSA) and the World Surf League (WSL) which aims to provide competitive WSL Qualifying Series events for local South African surfers. This provides them with the opportunity to compete in, earn valuable WSL QS ranking points, all while earning prize money without the hassle and expensive of having to travel overseas. The Series also attracts a large contingency of International surfers seeking the same objectives but enjoying South Africa’s rich surf destinations and enjoyable currency.

Commenting on the significance of this partnership, Bronwen Blunden, Sponsorship Manager of Thirsti Water said, “The City Surf Series is a perfect partner for Thirsti considering our shared vision to develop local surf talent and steering them to the world stage”. We look forward to welcoming some of the best up and coming talent to our shores and providing the platform for our locals to compete against them. She added, “Cape Town is a strategic opportunity for us and the event will put us on the path of making a contribution to the local communities”.

The Thirsti Cape Town Pro will also become the only mobile event on the WSL calendar, which will see the event change venue across Cape Town over a 5-day waiting period. This unique event will result in the best surfing conditions being selected across each different venue on 3 selected days, in providing the best stage for surfers to compete in. The event may also be become the first ever to be held across two oceans should the conditions cater for it.

“We are pleased to welcome Thirsti Water to our growing family of key sponsors and partners. They already have a strong brand presence in the market with a high-profile of brand associations, and we are looking forward to sharing successes with them”, said Gary Grant, Managing Director of Accelerate Sport. “Our partnership will provide additional exposure and awareness for the sport and deliver broader audience reach.”

About City Surf Series
The City Surf Series is a collaboration between Surfing South Africa (SSA), the World Surf League (WSL) and Accelerate Sport which aims to provide competitive WSL Qualifying Series events for local South African surfers.