WS Bet backs Malawi sports journalists with K5m AGM sponsorship
The annual gathering will coincide with World Sports Journalists Day (WSJD), observed globally on July 2.
Malawi.- Sports betting operator WS Bet has contributed K5m (€2,529) to the Sports Writers Association of Malawi (SWAM) to support the association’s Annual General Meeting and activities marking World Sports Journalists Day in July.
The sponsorship was presented ahead of the AGM, which will be held in Salima and is expected to bring together about 200 sports journalists from across Malawi. The annual gathering will coincide with World Sports Journalists Day (WSJD), observed globally on July 2.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, WS Bet finance director Blessings Banda said the betting company decided to support the association because of the role sports journalists play in promoting sports and informing the public.
He said: “We always want to support society in any way we can. We decided to partner with sports journalists so that they can have a smooth AGM. We know that from the AGM they will come up with great ideas that will enable them to provide accurate and meaningful information to the public.”
Banda added that WS Bet sees sports journalists as an important part of Malawi’s sporting ecosystem because their reporting helps raise the profile of athletes, competitions and different sporting disciplines. He said the company remains open to future partnerships that contribute to sports development in the country.
SWAM vice president Lucy Kadzongwe welcomed the donation, describing it as timely support as the association prepares for its annual meeting. She said: “This generous contribution from WS Bet comes at a critical time as we prepare for our AGM. The support will help us meet various logistical requirements and ensure the successful hosting of the gathering. We are truly grateful for this partnership and for the confidence that WS Bet has shown in our association.”
Kadzongwe said the AGM has a budget of K50m (€25,297), meaning additional funding will be needed to stage the event. She appealed to companies and other stakeholders to support the association’s efforts to promote professionalism, capacity building and excellence in sports journalism.
Besides the AGM, the programme will include activities to mark World Sports Journalists Day before concluding with a gala dinner where outstanding sports journalists will be recognised through peer-voted awards. According to SWAM, the awards are intended to acknowledge excellence in sports reporting while encouraging high professional standards within the industry.
