Cape Town - A host of top sporting icons and celebrities will attend the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards at Emperors Palace on February 23, ensuring the annual event once again sets the trends as the most dazzling and high-profile event on the South African sporting calendar.

The likes of Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius, supermodel Kerry McGregor, golfer Thomas Aiken, surfer Roxy Louw, and former Bafana Bafana stars Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish are just a handful of the national treasures attending, with many more amazing personalities set to be announced.

They will see the winners of each of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards categories - covering disciplines including marketing, PR, sponsorship, media, advertising, design and more - unveiled at the black-tie event, giving the winning agencies, brands, corporates, sports clubs and governing bodies well-deserved recognition and reward for their part in growing the ever-evolving South African sport industry.

The launch of the Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards last year was “a watershed moment” for South African sport, according to former Springboks captain Bob Skinstad, who will once again act as host of the Awards ceremony. Skinstad will be joined by many other national and international sporting and non-sporting stars, rubbing shoulders with the most influential business figures and decision makers within the sports market.

Bob Skinstad said: "The Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards 2011 was a watershed moment for the business side of South African sport. In one fell swoop, the industry players came together to celebrate and validate the hard work and funds they are committing every year. Long may it continue!"

Oscar Pistorius said: "The Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards ceremony is one of the best nights of the year and it’s great to see the most exciting and innovative work in South African sport rewarded. I'm looking forward to what will be another really fantastic event."

Roxy Louw said: "The Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards are the perfect mix of sport and glamour. I really enjoyed last year's event, like everyone else who was there! I can't wait to catch up with everyone again next month."

Mark Fish said: "The Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards were one of the highlights of last year and I can't wait for this year's event - it's an evening not to be missed."

The Virgin Active Sport Industry Awards ceremony has swiftly become established as the number one opportunity for the biggest players in the sport market to come together, network and celebrate their achievements amongst peers. This year, more than 130 entries to the Awards went through a rigorous two-stage judging process scrutinised at all times by the Official Independent Adjudicators, Deloitte, with some of the biggest and most respected names in sport involved as judges.