Hercules Trophy celebrated with Olympic Athletes for Mandela Day

The inaugural Hercules Trophy event will be held at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Gauteng on International Mandela Day on 18^th July. After the success of this unique concept in Europe and the Middle East, the Hercules Trophy organisation has chosen International Mandela Day as the best date to launch the inter-company competition in South Africa. About 50 business teams (of 7 people per team) are committed to the corporate sporting team day.

Team South Africa will attend the event and will contribute their “67 minutes” for Mandela Day just a day before they depart for the London 2012 Olympics. The Olympic Athletes together with the corporate athletes will be sending a loud clear message to their fellow South Africans to “Make Every Day a Mandela Day” whilst packaging hundreds of items of sporting equipment, including items donated by the athletes themselves, destined for six under-privileged schools adopted by Hercules Trophy South Africa.

Hercules Trophy is the fastest growing networked team-building competition in the world. The format has already revolutionized the event and team-building market in Europe and the Middle East and is now ready to conquer the North American market. By the combination of competitive experiences, sports and entertainment on one day, Hercules Trophy builds a long-term team effect. The format actively promotes physical and mental fitness for business people. Everybody at the office with a basic physical condition, regardless of age, sex or fitness can join the event, and even win the competition.

The inaugural event will host about 50 teams from various South African companies that have been preparing the event online for weeks. Avis, Tiger Brands, Europe Car, Legacy Hotels, Supercare Services, Flight Centre, and a lot of other companies have registered several teams to defend the company honour. For a complete list of the participating companies: www.herculestrophy.com (“Who’s There”). The schools that will benefit from the initiative can be found in the list below.

Gerry Skerritt, Director at DreamTeam Catalyst: “There are a lot of great initiatives by South African companies for Mandela Day. Our event is unique because we unite different companies in their CSR effort and by that means we try to amplify the effect. Dream Team are very excited to have the licence to organise the Hercules Trophy in South Africa, because the very specific combination of team building, networking, charity and competition appeals to the value systems in our country. We think that this is exactly what South African companies need at this moment.”

“The expansion of the Hercules Trophy format to South Africa is an important milestone for our company, after our growth in other regions in the world. Nelson Mandela’s quote: “Sport has the power to unite people in a way that little else does” has been our company adagio for years now”, says Inge Van Belle, Vice-President and Co-Founder Hercules Trophy International. “Teambuilding events with a CSR dimension do not only increase morale, drive engagement and improve employees’ happiness factor. They also have a social impact, which goes far beyond the company’s interest. The fact that we can integrate International Mandela Day in our event feels very natural and inspires us for future Hercules Trophies in other countries.”

About Hercules Trophy

Founded in 1999 in Belgium, the Hercules Trophy is a super-charged inter-company sporting team day that builds camaraderie, embraces networking and promotes company loyalty. It has developed into the biggest and most anticipated international teambuilding and networking event in Europe, attracting more than 36,000 people from 600 companies to date. In addition to Belgium, Hercules Trophy events are also run in Spain, The Netherlands, UAE (Dubai), USA and Singapore.

Hercules Trophy was created by international entrepreneur Yves Vekemans and a group of corporate businessmen who cared about their people. They looked for a formula that would establish long lasting emotional connections between their employees. Recognising that sport was a good means for getting people connected and working towards common goals, they created an inter-company challenge that today is the Hercules Trophy. Teams of 5 to 7 people participate in 12 ‘labours’ or sporting challenges with a fun twist. Each activity requires participants to think, act and perform as a team, and the emotional resonance created by the event continues at both the team and individual level long after the day. So successful is the outcome of Hercules Trophy that the event enjoys a 91% return rate every year.

About Dream Team Catalyst

The Dream Team was formed in 1992 and work at the cutting edge of teambuilding and are now the largest team development company in Africa and licensees of Catalyst Global the world’s foremost teambuilding company. Their clients appreciate true quality – a creative approach based on sound concepts and practical experience. They offer structured interventions that address specific needs and achieve measurable outcomes as well as high energy events that will simply delight and astound even the most jaded participants!

Dream Team say; It’s all about people, our people and yours. We employ the best and never stop developing them. We are committed to getting the best out of your people and thus your teams and your organisation. We are not teachers or preachers but facilitators who can share the knowledge skills and drive needed to bring about positive change. Dream Team events have a unique style. Teambuilding Events, Conferences, Training Programmes, Incentives, Celebrations & Fun Days all take on a fresh look and feel when we are involved.