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SURFING SOUTH AFRICA ANNOUNCES MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH ACCELERATE SPORT

Surfing South Africa, the officially governing body for surfriding in South Africa, has renewed its long-term partnership with Accelerate Sport on a 4-year contract. The renewed agreement is a testament to the collaborative partnership the two organisations have had in the past and will continue going forward.

“The renewal of this contract is a significant vote of confidence in Accelerate Sport’s services and effectiveness over the years”, stated Robin de Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa. “Accelerate Sport has been a valued partner whose industry knowledge and experience has helped us evolve to stay on the forefront of the surfing industry in South Africa to date”.

Accelerate Sport has worked with and supported Surfing South Africa as the exclusive commercial and marketing agency since December 2016. The Cape Town-based marketing agency will continue to be responsible for the marketing strategies and activities to exploit Surfing South Africa’s commercial products. By extending this partnership, the agency will continue providing leading marketing capabilities and differentiated solutions to drive Surfing South Africa’s continued growth and success within South Africa.

Julia Camargo, Royal St Andrews Surf Classic 2019 – photo taken by Ian Thurtell

Daniel Quinta, CEO of Accelerate Sport, said in a statement, “We’ve had a great working relationship over the years with Surfing South Africa and we are very much looking forward to building on that relationship.” He added, “We believe by continuing and expanding on our existing relationship, we will only see more growth and success for surfing, despite the trials and tribulations we are all experiencing given the COVID-19 outbreak”.

Following the adjusted regulations by the Presidency, Accelerate Sport and Surfing South Africa will make the necessary announcements in light of the upcoming surfing activities for 2021.

For further information and updates, please contact surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com

About Surfing South Africa (SSA)

Surfing South Africa is the governing body for the sport in South Africa and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).

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

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ACCELERATE SPORT ANNOUNCES THE PASSING OF MANAGING DIRECTOR, GARY GRANT

It is with a sense of profound sadness that we inform you of the passing of one of our founding members and Managing Director, Gary Grant, as a result of Covid-19 related complications.

Gary always knew that to make the business flourish, we would need to build a strong and reliable team and the growth and success of the business is testament to that vision. Accelerate Sport is proud of its professional and competent team, which Gary built to ensure the highest levels of service to our clients and sponsors alike.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Songezo Nayo stated, “Working with our CEO, Daniel Quinta, we remain committed to continuing with Gary’s vision and ensuring that our professional engagement continues with all our respective partners”.

He further added, “Whilst we will miss Gary’s energy and insights, we are fully committed to ensuring the company fulfills its obligations without any disruptions. It is natural that you may have questions and we respectfully request that these questions are directed to our CEO, Daniel Quinta daniel@acceleratesport.com or 083 308 6682”.

Our offices are now open and we are ready for 2021 to work alongside you to make this another successful year.

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SQUASH RETURNS WITH REVAMPED TOURNAMENTS

Professional squash is back and set to resume this October with a revamped Growthpoint SA Nationals and Growthpoint Interprovincial.

The revamped Growthpoint SA Nationals will provide more squash players with the chance to compete in the tournament than ever before. The tournament will feature eight regional qualifier events across 8 provinces, with the winners qualifying for the main event. A minimum of 256 Men and 128 Women are expected to compete in the regionals.

The main event will be held in an all-glass squash court in Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria from 15 to 17 October 2020. Fourteen matches, from the quarter-finals to the finals, will be played across the men’s and women’s divisions. The winners will be crowned SA’s best squash players. All matches will be streamed live on the Squash South Africa Facebook and YouTube pages.

“Following the COVID-19 outbreak, we have had to reassess and adjust how we can best cater for our athletes. We are delighted to announce this new structure for the Growthpoint SA Nationals and we believe this model provides more opportunities to more athletes than ever before. We are extremely grateful to Growthpoint for their full support in this new format, as well as Tsogo Sun and Dunlop who have continued to support us,” said Squash South Africa Acting President, Jennifer Sawyer.

The Growthpoint Interprovincial has also undergone changes to prevent large gatherings of teams due to COVID-19 precautions. For the first time ever, different divisions will be played across the country, with Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Pietermaritzburg set to play hosts.

“We know our members have been anxious about whether the Growthpoint Interprovincial would go ahead this year. We believe this is the best possible compromise to ensure the tournament can go ahead in a safe and responsible manner. The heart and soul of the Interprovincial is in the coming together of people to play and bond, and we will aim to return the format back to normal in 2021,” added Ms Sawyer.

The tournaments will all be played according to the COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Strategy submitted by Squash South Africa and approved by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. The federation has worked closely with government to ensure the full compliance necessary to proceed.

Only the participating squash players, event staff and broadcast team will be allowed on-site in Brooklyn Mall. All participants will be screened prior to the start of each day. Security will ensure no gathering of crowds and safe social distancing. No spectators will be allowed at the tournaments as well as no hospitality.

“Our focus is to ensure that our athletes can compete in a safe and responsible manner. We will work to ensure that no athletes or staff will be compromised in any way,” said Ms Sawyer.

Tournament Schedule
• 1 – 4 October 2020: East London Pre Qualifier

• 8 – 11 October 2020: Regional Qualifiers
o North West, Northerns, Joburg, Western Province, Free State, Eastern Province, Border,Midlands, KwaZulu Natal.

• 15 – 17 October 2020: Growthpoint SA Nationals (Main Event)
o Brooklyn Mall, Pretoria

• 19 – 23 October 2020: Growthpoint Interprovincial
o Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Pietermaritzburg

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.

About Squash South Africa

Squash South Africa is recognised as the South African national governing body of the sport of squash by SASCOC. Together with 138 other countries, Squash South Africa is affiliated to the World Squash Federation and abides by the WSF Rules of Squash for both singles and doubles.

For further information, please contact:

Squash SA: Liz Addison
+27 (0) 11 442 8056
liz@squashsa.co.za
www.squashsa.co.za

Media & PR: Katleho Mashego – Accelerate Sport
+27 (0) 63 224 0268
katleho@acceleratesport.com
www.acceleratesport.com

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ACCELERATE SPORT TEAM UP WITH LIVING HOPE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

CAPE TOWN – In response to the global COVID-19 crisis, Accelerate Sport has joined forces with Living Hope, to feed the community during these challenging times.

Gary Grant, Managing Director of Accelerate Sport said,” As a result of the outbreak, many of our communities are struggling to feed their families. As we work tirelessly to help our impacted business and our clients overcome their own business challenges, it is equally important to reach out and help those in need”. He went on to say, “We are always looking for ways to connect with our communities and present a united front of hope, compassion and generosity”.

Living Hope, a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, is actively devoted to combat poverty, hunger and illnesses throughout the Mother City, in conjunction with various Community Action Network groups. To help Living Hope organisation curb the issue of hunger, Accelerate Sport has volunteeredto provide much needed transportation needs, in helping meet the programme’s objectives.

On Friday mornings, Accelerate uses its vehicles that are sponsored VW Commercial Vehicles, to transport over 750kg of fresh vegetables from Observatory Brewery to the Living Hope premise. The vegetables get cleaned and chopped from Living Hope’s kitchen facilities and thereafter, get distributed on Monday mornings to a local brewery in Cape Town, Long Beach Brewery, which uses its vats to make nutritious soup for communities.

Accelerate Sport appeals to the public to get involved and donate to Living Hope in whatever way they can. To learn more about Living Hope’ commitment to the community and how you can donate, please visit www.livinghope.co.za

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.

About Living Hope

Living Hope is a Christian non-profit organisation whose vision is to reach people for Christ, bringing hope and breaking the despair of poverty and disease. Living Hope undertakes community development through educational, social, income generation, and health related programmes; and plays a vital role in the prevention, care and treatment of people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses.

For further information, please contact:

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

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CITY SURF SERIES TO MAKE A RETURN IN 2021

CAPE TOWN – The City Surf Series, a fully private owned surfing property by Accelerate Sport, will be making its much anticipated return to the South African shores in 2021.

The Series is the biggest, annual series of its kind amongst professional surfing events in the world and was poised to kick start on the 11th of April 2020. Unfortunately, due to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and with the health and safety of all involved being top priority, it was decided that the best route would be to cancel the 2020 edition.

Accelerate Sport has been working in close co-operation with Surfing South Africa (SSA), World Surf League (WSL) and its respective partners to establish new dates to stage the tournament in 2021.

Gary Grant, MD of Accelerate Sport believes it was a responsible move to reschedule the series to next year, “We had previously hoped to delay the City Surf Series to later this year in anticipation that COVID-19 concerns might lessen. However, following continuous monitoring of health advisories and recent statements by WSL, Surfing SA and the government, it is safer for everyone concerned to move the series to 2021”.

Gary further added, “We are working on some exciting new ideas and additions for 2021 and we look forward to bringing together the surfing community in a healthy, safe and entertaining environment when the event returns next year. We would like to thank all our valuable partners who are supportive of the decision to move the series to 2021. Most importantly, our thoughts and sympathies are with all the families who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic”.

2021 provisional dates and venues:

• 3 – 5 April: Royal St. Andrews Hotel Port Alfred Classic

• 9 – 11 April: Nelson Mandela Bay Pro

• 16 – 18 April: George Vic Bay Classic

• 22 – 26 April: Cape Town Pro

• 12 – 16 June: VW SA Open of Surfing

In addition, plans are underway to secure events in Durban, Lambert’s Bay, the KZN South Coast and Mossel Bay – further details to follow.

Commenting on the legacy of the series in the world of surfing, Francisco Spinola, WSL Regional Director (Europe – Middle East and Africa) for EMEA said, “The City Surf Series has helped not only South Africa but the rest of the world to show how to run very successful series of smaller QS events back to back with great success. It has been the foundation of the resurgence of surfers from South Africa”. He concluded, “The international wins by David Van Zyl in Hawaii, Jordy Maree in Indonesia and Shane Sykes who came in 5th place in Morocco, has shown that a healthy domestic tour like the City Surf Series will go a long way to grow the level of surfing in the region”.

Robin de Kock, GM of Surfing South Africa said, “Surfing South Africa is disappointed that the City Series will not be taking place this year. The health and safety of the surfers, officials and spectators at Surfing South Africa sanctioned events is paramount and clearly the right decision has been taken. We look forward to working with all of our partners on the City Surf Series when it gets underway in early April next year”.

Accelerate Sport will continue to monitor the situation, with the priority being placed on the health and safety of athletes, officials, fans and the community at large.

To learn more, please visit www.citysurfseries.co.za

About City Surf Series

The City Surf Series is an Accelerate Sport owned and managed surfing property. Accelerate Sport has collaborated with Surfing South Africa (SSA) and the World Surf League (WSL) in order to create and facilitate a competitive platform for WSL Qualifying Series events to the benefit for local South African surfers.

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.


About the World Surf League (WSL)

The World Surf League (WSL), established in 1976, is the enablement platform for surfing and surfers worldwide. The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality and stoke.

About Surfing South Africa (SSA)


Surfing South Africa is the governing body for the sport in South Africa and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).


For further information, please contact:

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