UK Sport To Bid For 70 Sporting Events
UK Sport and the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) today announced the launch of their ‘Gold Events Series’ which aims to bring 70 prestigious sporting events to the UK.
The Gold Event Series will use £27m of National Lottery funding to finance their bids for the events which will include 36 World and European Championships. The campaign is part of wider plans to develop the Government’s support for hosting major international sporting events, and continue the momentum generated by London 2012.
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: ‘In developing the Gold Event Series, UK Sport is building on the success of London 2012 and supporting the UK’s on-going legacy goals. The continued hosting of world class events supports our athletes’ performance ambitions, provides a unique platform to inspire participation, and allows sport to contribute towards the economic growth agenda.’
UK Sport estimates that the programme will generate approximately £287 million in additional expenditure for the communities that play host to these events across the UK, allowing sport to play its part in the Government’s growth agenda.
Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson said: ‘One of the most important sports legacies of London 2012 is our ability to attract major events in the future – which boost the economy, increase tourism and encourage participation. We already have a fantastic eight years of great sport events planned and I want to attract more events in the years ahead.’
Simon Morton, director of major events and international relations at UK Sport, said: ‘UK Sport has been working on an ambitious hosting strategy beyond London 2012 to capitalise on this position for some time now, with the aim of establishing the UK as a world-leading host of major international sporting events.
Morton added: ‘In developing the Gold Event Series we will work in partnership with DCMS to offer national governing bodies of sport the most comprehensive package of support of any nation, to give us the best chance of securing those gold-level events.’
