2012 Games Double Success For Leeds - Roadshow And Conference Meet In Leeds On 19th July
17th July 2006
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell is to provide the keynote speech for the “2012 Delivering for the UK” conference at Leeds town hall following the region’s exemplary support of London’s successful 2012 bid. The conference will be attended by more than 200 delegates representing businesses from across the UK and is the first of its kind to be held outside the capital.
Also visiting Leeds on the same day is the 2012 Roadshow which is on the latest stop of its 3,000 mile odyssey that began on 6th July in London’s Trafalgar Square where thousands cheered the IOC decision last year.
The Roadshow with its specially-branded bus – bearing images of some of the country’s most famous Olympians and internationally-known locations will arrive outside Leeds Town Hall to meet guests before moving on to Millennium Square where they will be treated to a performance by Phoenix Dance Theatre and a display by Leeds Owls Hockey team.
This conference will also provide Yorkshire Forward with an opportunity to demonstrate how the region’s businesses can tap into the supply chains that will be supporting the big infrastructure developments. Yorkshire Forward has set up a new Sports Virtual Enterprise Network to help Small and Medium Enterprises to share expertise and work together to negotiate and trade as a single entity. The new S-VEN will enable them to pool resources to make serious bids for larger contracts and compete with more established companies.
The Regional Development Agency is also planning a 2012 Business Club and an online system that will alert the region’s businesses to contracts and other opportunities as they emerge.
Martin Havenhand, Executive Chair of the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games, who is due give a welcome speech at the conference, said “Yorkshire’s support for the Olympic and Paralympic Games continues to be a source of both amazement and pride, this is a great region with fantastic cultural facilities and a proud sporting tradition.
“Yorkshire’s support can be hugely beneficial to the London 2012 Games and the region can also massively benefit from the wide ranging economic, social and cultural benefits of the Games. I am working with colleagues, through the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 Games to ensure Yorkshire maximises it’s opportunities from the games.”
Neil Jenkinson, Head of Culture and Major Events for Yorkshire Forward said:
“The fact that cities the world over compete to host major sporting events like the Games means that the country and the region has to make the most of this golden opportunity.
“The Government wants contracts for the Games to go to the regions. We are determined that we will provide as much information as possible about upcoming tenders, business opportunities and the Olympic Delivery Authority’s procurement Systems.
“Yorkshire Forward and the Yorkshire Committee for the 2012 games will be working hard to demonstrate the region’s capabilities in terms of staging major events in addition to taking advantage of the economic benefits that the games will bring to the region.”
Research carried out last year showed that a London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games could benefit the region to the tune of £600m* – not including additional revenue from increased tourism.