EU Summit: \"Major events is a global growth market that is out there for the taking\"

In line with its EU Summit event at the Oval today, the Sport and Recreation Alliance released its latest research on major events since London 2012.

The Alliance anonymously asked the chairs and chief execs of the biggest sport governing bodies in the UK about their experiences of bidding for major events.

Out of the NGBs which responded:

• 83% said that they were only ‘just as likely’ to bid for a major event since London 2012 (as opposed to more, or less likely)
• 63% said that the Games hadn’t made it easier for them to win staging rights
• 50% said that central and local governments weren’t doing enough to support their bids
• 67% said that the main obstacle to bidding for major events is the financial risk
• 38% stated that ‘providing the highest financial guarantee’ was the most important factor for them in winning a bid.

Andy Reed, chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said:

"What's palpable from our event today is that London 2012 has shown that when it comes to hosting major sport events – the UK is up there with the very best.

 "What's more we've got lots of events coming up in the calendar to keep that momentum going – the Rugby World Cup and Commonwealth Games to name just a couple.

 "This is all great but our research has shown that the financial risk of holding major events is holding some governing bodies back.

"Major events is a global growth market that is out there for the taking – greater local authority support as well as the government putting their proposed Major Events Bill into action would really help the UK to exploit the big opportunities that are out there more."

View the speakers' slides from the EU Summit. Speakers included:

• Debbie Jevans, chief executive of England Rugby World Cup 2015
• Simon Morton, director of major events and international relations at UK Sport
• Nic Coward, general secretary of the Premier League
• Andy Parkinson, chief executive of UK Anti-Doping.

For media enquiries contact Libby Jellie on 020 7976 3933.
 

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