The Exciting World of Sport Event Management: Turning your passion into a career
Sport event management is a dynamic and exciting field that combines the love of sport and fitness with the expertise of event management. It involves the conceptualisation, planning, coordination and execution of sport events, tournaments, festivals, gala dinners and specialised shows aimed at athletes and fitness professionals - ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for participants, spectators and other stakeholders.
Let us delve into the world of sport event management, exploring what it entails, the subjects covered in our HFPA qualification and the exciting career prospects you will have when completing our programme to enter this fulfilling career.
What is Sport Event Management?
Sport event management encompasses various aspects of sporting, events planning and execution, including:
- Conceptualisation and design
- Marketing communication and promotion
- Logistics and operations
- Risk management and occupational health and safety
- Financial management
- Sponsorship and fundraising
- Volunteer management
- Communication and media relations
- Social media management
Individuals that choose a career as a sport event manager, typically possess a unique blend of business acumen, lots of creativity and precise attention to detail, as these individuals ensure that events are delivered on time, within a budget and to the amusement and satisfaction of all event stakeholders.
Subjects Covered in our Sport Event Management Qualification
Our sport event management qualification covers an exciting range of modules and will cover topics such as:
Introduction to Sport Event Management
- Conference organising
- Basic food and beverage services
- Integrated Marketing Communication
- Social media and digital literacy
- Resource and procurement management
- Financial Management
- Logistics and Operations
- Facilities Managing
- Project Management
- Risk Management and Safety
- Sponsorship and Fundraising
- Entrepreneurship
- Sport Law and Ethics
- Sport Tourism and Destination Management
Prospects for Sport Event Managers in South Africa
There are so many career opportunities in sport event management in South Africa that people are not aware of! Careers in the South African sport and fitness industry are extremely diverse and very rewarding. As one of the world’s strongest sporting nations, a career in this industry will provide you with prospects in becoming involved or working for:
- Professional sport teams and leagues
- Event management companies that service the sport industry specifically
- Sports organizations such as governing bodies
- Tourism boards
- Sport marketing agencies
- Sponsorship and branding companies
- Sport facilities and venues
What does a day in the life of a Sport Event Manager look like?
Not a single day will be the same as the next day or the previous day if you choose to become a sport event manager. Providing you with a schedule of what a day in the life of a sport managing event planner will look like - would not do the career any justice!
A quick overview of a typical day can include the following deliverables, but are definitely not limited to the following routine:
- Check emails and respond to urgent messages from stakeholders, sponsors, or team members.
- Review the event schedule, timeline, and task list to prioritise tasks.
- Scan news and social media for updates on sports industry trends, sponsor activations, or potential event disruptions.
Meet with the event team to discuss:
- Venue logistics (layout, seating, parking, travel and transport logistics)
- Marketing, social media and promotional strategies
- Writing sponsorship proposals
- Brand activations for big names in the industry
- Talent and entertainment management
You will also coordinate various vendors responsible for catering and hospitality services, audio-visual companies, security management companies and emergency management services. The list is endless, the possibilities even more so and the excitement of doing it all will have you exhilarated and excited for the event that you are planning and managing.
As thrilling as event management can be as taxing and challenging it can also be - it therefore requires for individuals to have tenacity, the drive to achieve and lots of ENDURANCE.
In Conclusion
Sport event management offers a thrilling career path for those passionate about sport and events. With a solid foundation such as our Sport Event Management qualification and the relevant hands on experience that we will provide you in planning, organising and assist with managing of our sport events hosted at UXi Sport International Rugby Institutes, our Netball Institute as well as for our CrossFit competitions and challenges hosted by the Health & Fitness Professionals Academy, you will gain the necessary workplace integrated learning to building a strong foundation for becoming an outstanding Sport Event Manager!
Start today and contribute to the growth and success of the sports industry including the events sector in our country. Help us change the employment landscape of the sport economy in South Africa.
