Many of the top schools hosted sports festivals over the past Easter weekend showing off to all and sundry the incredible sporting talent of their learners. In doing so, Kerry Damons of Boston City Campus & Business College is quick to point out, the schools also showed that sport is ‘big’, no matter at what level it is played.
“Parents, teachers, families, friends flocked to these school festivals instead of going away to some holiday spot on the coast for the long weekend,” she comments. “It shows how committed everyone is to sport and testifies that most people derive great enjoyment from being involved in sport, be it playing, coaching or simply watching.”
Those who have a passion for sport should thus not hesitate to consider carving a career in the sport industry, Damons adds. “The sport industry is massive and offers a variety of careers choices that extend way beyond the field,” she says. “You don’t need to be a great athlete or hockey player or soccer ace to make a living in the sport industry. Nowadays you can go into a wide variety of career opportunities that include sports administration, coaching, sports marketing and PR, sports entertainment and hospitality. There’s also sports reporting for radio, TV, print and digital media, just to mention a few options.”
Boston City Campus & Business College offers courses in sports management; sport administration; sports club management; and football coaching and administration. According to Damons, these 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.
“In terms of longevity and sustainability, not many industries can beat the sport industry,” says Damons. “Consider that the Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC! The first FIFA soccer world cup took place in 1930 and today is a multi-million rand event.”
Closer to home, she adds, South Africa hosts the world’s largest and oldest ultra marathon race, the Comrades Marathon, every year. This marathon not only provides runners and spectators with a great experience, but also stimulates economic growth and creates jobs in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) economy. The host cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg benefit the most as athletes 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.
To find out more about careers in sport and the training needed to enter the sport industry, Damons suggests you speak to a career advisor at one of the Boston City Campus & Business College centres nationwide. Boston career advisors can help you choose the option that is best suited to your abilities, personality and future dreams – and this career advice is offered free of charge and without obligation to register for a course. However, booking is essential. For more information and for applications, contact Boston City Campus & Business College or visit www.boston.co.za for more information.
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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