The sport industry continues to provide lots of business, lots of news and lots of work opportunities. Natalie Rabson of Boston City Campus & Business College, points out that because it is an industry that has stood the test of time, sport can offer job seekers and school leavers a wide variety of good career options.
“Through centuries, sport has been not only a source of entertainment but also of income,” she says. “Consider that the first Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC! In the past, however, career choices were limited while today you can go into a wide variety of career opportunities in sports administration, coaching, sports marketing and PR, sports entertainment and hospitality, and sports reporting for radio, TV, print and digital media, just to mention a few options.”
In terms of sustainability and long-term prospects, the industry also looks attractive. Take a look at the world’s largest and oldest ultra marathon race, the Comrades Marathon that was run recently. This marathon brings with it great value to both South Africa and South Africans as the Comrades not only provides runners and spectators with a great experience, but also brings great economic and social benefits. Most important of all, it stimulates economic growth and creates jobs.
A detailed economic impact study was done as part of the 85th anniversary of the Comrades Marathon back in 2010. The study revealed that the marathon directly pumped R286-million into the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) economy. The host cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg benefit the most. This is because the runners and their families, fans and supporters come to stay in the host cities. Sponsors of the event, stall holders and other vendors as well as journalists and photographers also flock to the area and stay for a few days. This results in a whole lot of people spending money on accommodation, food, entertainment and transport in the host cities. These visitors also buy local products such as souvenirs and handcrafts and often take guided tours to tourist attractions nearby. The more tourists that come to the Comrades, the more money that comes into the area near the Comrades route. This causes the so-called multiplier effect and stimulates economic growth, the study explained. “The Comrades study is just one of many examples that may be successfully highlighted in the area of sports,” comments Rabson. “The FIFA World Cup that we are enjoying at the moment is much bigger than the Comrades and has a much bigger economic impact. It is clear that the sport industry is massive and that is why it offers such a variety of careers choices and good prospects and these careers extend way beyond the field."
To find out more about careers in sport and the training needed to enter the sport industry, you can speak to a career advisor at one of the Boston City Campus & Business College centres nationwide. These career advisors can help you choose the option that is best suited to your abilities, personality and future dreams. The career advice is offered free of charge and without obligation to enrol for a specific course. However, booking is essential. Go to www.boston.co.za to get the contact details of a Boston college near you so that you can make your booking in advance.
Boston City Campus & Business College offers courses in sports management; sport administration; sport club management; and football coaching and administration. The College is the training body for Cricket SA and its courses are popular with people from all kinds of backgrounds and ages. On the Boston website you can read real life stories of people who studied at Boston and have made a great success in sport-related careers.
You will recognise some of the names of those that studied at Boston like Piet Botha (Border cricketer), Norrie Williamson (sports writer), Dane Klate (Orlando pirates and SA player), and Helen Flemming (SA rowing). Well-known personalities such as Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroko Swallows), Gary Parker Nance (TCB stadium manager), football legend John Moeti and Dave Nosworthy (Mnet Supersport) are also among those who studied sport through Boston and have successful careers.
For more information and for applications, contact Boston City Campus & Business College on 011 551-2000, e-mail info@boston.co.za, visit www.boston.co.za, or Facebook.
Students that apply for admission at Boston City Campus & Business College will get a response to their applications within two working days. And those that apply long in advance for their 2016 studie…
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