Best Sports Sponsorship for Women

This award recognises the most impactful and innovative sports sponsorship supporting women’s sport in Ireland over the last 12 months. This may include sponsorship of female athletes, teams, leagues, events, or governing bodies. Judges will be looking for a partnership built on mutual goals that promotes equality, elevates visibility, and drives meaningful engagement with women's sport, while delivering clear and measurable results for both rights holder and sponsor. Entry is by a 5 A4 page submission; the judges will be looking for clear information backed up by evidence, photos, and supporting materials, that pays particular attention to the criteria listed below.

• Organisation Background: For both the Rights Holder and Sponsor, please outline when the organisations were established, the sectors operated in, the number of employees, and full sponsorship portfolios, particularly those involving women’s sport.
• Sponsorship(s): Please describe the sponsorship(s) being submitted, including how long it has been in existence, the sport and competition level (grassroots, elite, national, international), and any distinctive elements that make it noteworthy.
• Objectives: What were the objectives of this sponsorship? For example, growing female participation, improving representation, driving brand alignment with equality or empowerment, expanding audiences, or enhancing media visibility.
• Execution: Detail how the sponsorship was brought to life. Include creative activations, community engagement, athlete endorsements, media strategies, or supporter-focused initiatives.
• Innovation: Showcase how the sponsorship introduced new thinking or broke new ground. This could include digital innovation, storytelling, ambassador-led campaigns, inclusive events, or strategies to close the gender gap in sport.
• Outcome & Results: Explain why this sponsorship stands out in advancing women’s sport. Provide supporting evidence of outcomes, such as increased viewership, participation growth, media coverage, fan engagement, and improved brand equity.
• Testimonials: Where possible, include testimonials from athletes, team managers, governing bodies, community leaders, or brand representatives, reflecting on the partnership’s value, legacy, and impact on women’s sport.