2025 FESTIVAL OF SPORT INDUSTRY RECAP
THAT IS A WRAP ON THE 2025 FESTIVAL OF SPORT!
The festivities kicked off on Thursday afternoon. We were welcomed to the Festival of Sport by the Hon. Emily Bourke MLC, who spoke beautifully about the power of sport and the impact Cathy Freeman OAM has had on us all. Hosted by the amazing Ali Clarke, we kicked off with an inspiring Q&A session with Cathy Freeman OAM and Bruce McAvaney OAM, who shared their insights on perseverance, sportsmanship, and the importance of community.
We were welcomed to the Festival of Sport with an afternoon of celebrating the achievements of members of our South Australian Sporting community at the South Australian Sport Awards. Six awards were presented over the afternoon, selected from our diverse range of finalists.
THANK YOU TO OUR GUEST SPEAKERS!
Friday’s speakers invited us to learn from a diverse range of voices, from industry thought leaders to legends of the sporting community. Discussions explored how to create greater opportunities and inclusion in sport, led by changemakers like Robyn Smith and the Para SASI Unit, and were complemented by powerful stories from world-class athletes across Beach Volleyball, Cycling, Basketball, Swimming, Cricket, Rowing, and Marathon disciplines.
The speakers left lasting impressions, sparking meaningful and insightful conversations and delivered incredible takeaways relevant to all corners of the sporting industry for all who attended on the second day of the festival.
We would like to thank –
Brad Chilcott – Welcoming Australia
Kate Thomas – Welcoming Clubs
Robyn Smith – Sport Inclusion Australia
Emily Petricola OAM and Jed Altschwager PLY – South Australian Sports Institute
Meg Lemon PLY and Jessica Stenson OLY
Verity Hanka – Beach Volleyball World Championships
Peter Garden – Rugby Australia
Cameron French – Australian Sports Commission
Sue Hunt AM – Australian Sports Foundation
Ben Moretti – Bailey Abbott
Isaak Dury – TidyHQ
Future Sport South Australia by The Sports Network
On Day Two of the Festival of Sport, we invited industry attendees to share their visions for the future of sport by contributing suggestions under four key categories: compliance, capacity building, sporting infrastructure, and funding. This interactive thought board captured a diverse range of ideas, from providing first aid training for all junior club members to introducing governance training within club sport, reflecting the collective hopes and priorities for the continued growth and improvement of our sector.
2025 Festival of Sport Raffle
Throughout both days of the Festival of Sport, we hosted a raffle offering attendees the chance to win a variety of prizes generously donated by members of our sporting community. Every raffle ticket purchased, along with contributions to our wine wall fundraiser, directly supported the Ashleigh Young Scholarships through the Marjorie Jackson Nelson Foundation. We are grateful for the enthusiastic participation and generosity that helped advance this important initiative.
Donated By Beach Volleyball World Championships
Polo Shirt & Mini Volleyball signed by
Paris 2024 Olympians &
2 x Ground Passes Nov 15 & 16
Donated by: Netball SA
2023 Signed Premiership Netball &
Family Pass to the June 14th Game
2023 Signed Premiership Netball &
Family Pass to the June 14th Game
Donated by: Adelaide Football Club
AFLW Signed Football & Certificate
Donated by: SACA
Strikers Signed Bat & Certificate
Donated by: SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre
2 x 3-Month Gym & Swim Memberships
or 7-day Centre Passes
or Family Swim Passes
Well done to our lucky winners!
Cathy Freeman Frame Auction
At the opening of the Festival of Sport on Thursday afternoon, we were privileged to welcome Australian sporting legend Cathy Freeman. In a memorable moment, Cathy graciously signed a framed photograph capturing her iconic finish line crossing—a symbol of inspiration and achievement in Australian sport.
This special piece was offered in a silent auction held over the two days of the Festival, giving attendees the unique opportunity to own a piece of sporting history while supporting a worthy cause. All proceeds from the auction were dedicated to the Ashleigh Young Scholarships, which aim to empower and support the next generation of athletes and sports leaders. We extend our sincere gratitude to Cathy Freeman and to everyone who participated in the auction for their support and commitment to the future of sport.
2025 Festival of Sport Survey
We thank you for attending the 2025 Festival of Sport Industry Conference!
We hope you enjoyed the program and were able to network with existing colleagues and make new connections!
Your insights and feedback is important to us so we invite you to complete the survey below to help us improve our future events and provide better experiences for our guests.
THE 2025 FESTIVAL OF SPORT GALLERY
Find the photos taken at the 2025 Festival of Sport