SPAR’s international engagement with sport is a crucial part of our responsible retailing activities. SPAR supports sporting initiatives and enthusiasts of all ages and at all levels, including programmes targeted at boosting women’s participation in sports.

SPAR South Africa’s Virtual Challenge

In 2020, SPAR launched the Women’s Virtual Challenge as a homage to South African women’s resilience and strength amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when most sports events were either cancelled or postponed. Based on the challenge’s success that year, SPAR South Africa organised the race again in 2021, attracting over 50,000 participants and continued this trend in 2022. SPAR donated part of the participation fee to local charities supporting people impacted by gender-based violence and providing access to sanitary pads for women and girls.

SPAR Scotland supports women’s football

SPAR Scotland supports women’s and girls’ football through a partnership with the Scottish Football Association. In addition to supporting women’s football at a grassroots level, the company will sponsor the Scottish Women’s National Team until 2023. The partnership began in 2019 with the launch of the SPAR Future Stars Cup, which saw 105 schools across Scotland compete in the tournament in its inaugural year. In 2022, over 100 schools registered for the SPAR Future Stars Cup, increasing participation numbers and providing a fun, competitive environment for players of all abilities.

SPAR Switzerland sponsors women’s handball

SPAR Switzerland has been a supporter of the Swiss female Handball National team and the main partner of the female Handball League since 2012. To support handball teams throughout the country, the retailer has created a dedicated SPAR Handball App that enables customers to donate to a handball sponsorship fund. Over the years, SPAR Switzerland has donated CHF 200,000 (€193,400) to handball talents nationwide through its sponsorship activities. The Swiss handball programme is a great example of how a community approach benefits sporting enthusiasts from all walks of life.

SPAR Gran Canaria partner of women’s football team

SPAR Gran Canaria has reinforced its support for women’s football by renewing its sponsorship of football club CD Femarguín for the 2022-2023 season. SPAR Gran Canaria is a firm supporter of Canarian women’s sports and the values promoted by this club’s players. These values include the importance of discipline and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits such as physical exercise and a balanced diet.

SPAR South Africa supports women’s Indoor Hockey World Cup

The prestigious global event, presented by SPAR, is being held outside of Europe for the first time. The event takes place in Pretoria South Africa from 5-11 February 2023. The SPAR South Africa team will compete against 11 other nations in the women’s division. Through the support of SPAR, the women’s indoor hockey programme has been a shining light in the sport in South Africa. Head coach Lennie Botha was optimistic as he assessed their chances for the world event. We have had a wonderful programme over the past eight years with tremendous support from SPAR”, he said. “It has allowed us to develop a team that we believe will represent the country proudly on the highest possible stage of indoor hockey.”

SPAR South Africa’s long-lasting support of women’s netball

For over 20 years, SPAR South Africa has sponsored the women’s netball national team. SPAR South Africa’s sponsorship recognises this much-loved sport in South Africa and seeks to assist the national team to compete successfully in international competitions including the upcoming World Cup in Cape Town from 28th July to the 6th of August 2023  where SPAR is an official sponsor.

Sources: SPAR UK, SPAR South Africa, SPAR Switzerland, SPAR Gran Canaria