Conference tackles attracting world class sports events to the South East
The drive to bring more major sports events to the region steps up a gear with the Major Sports Event Conference - How can the South East profit? to be held in Kent in October.
Leading industry speakers from a range of sports organisations and national bodies will tackle issues including maximising income generation, tourism and sporting legacy benefits, successfully bidding for events and best practice in hosting big sporting occasions.
Hosted jointly by Tourism South East (TSE), the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Culture South East and Sports England, the Major Sports Event Conference - How can the South East profit? will also signpost opportunities arising from the London 2012 Olympics. It will consider strategies for partnership working to make the South East a more competitive and attractive location to sports' governing bodies and large-scale event organisers.
The Conference is on Friday 6 October at the Chart Hills Gold Club, Biddenden, Kent, coinciding with the Ladies English Open Golf Championships. It incorporates keynote speeches, practical advice and development sessions and the chance to watch professional golf. Tickets cost just £60 per delegate.
The delivery of a Major Sports Event Strategy for the region, led by TSE's Major Sports Events Manager Lindsey Horton, aims to bring short and long-term benefits in terms of attracting new visitors (and significant ancillary spend) and delivering a high profile. It will influence development of the region's infrastructure for hosting events, participating teams and their associated entourages in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics Games. The recent Tour of Britain stage hosted in Kent will be followed by a stage of the Tour de France in 2007, and there has been further success in attracting major new badminton and table tennis championships to the South East.
Lindsey Horton said: "There is a great opportunity for the region to build on its location and the natural advantages we bring as a setting for world class sport. These include existing internationally-significant venues, excellent transport infrastructure and the mix of beautiful countryside, coastlines and landmark towns and cities. This conference aims to empower people at a local level, to raise awareness of the opportunities and necessary processes and best practice, and to play a key role in bringing partners across the region together to bid for, and host, more major sports events."
Key speakers include Debbie Jevans, Director of Sport for the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), who will address how to link sports events to London 2012. Transport for London's Mark Howell will provide an insight into opportunities arising from the 2007 Tour de France, , and Event Manager Ann-Louise Morgan will explain how business and tourism opportunities were maximised from the successful recent World Rowing Championships held at Dorney Lake, Berkshire.
Other sessions include differentiating between Mega and Minor Events, with SportsWorld Group Director David Gambier and How to Write a Successful Bid, presented by TSE Major Sports Events Manager Lindsey Horton and Sport England's Head of Investment Paddy Herlihy.
The Conference is particularly appropriate for local authority tourism officers, venue and event managers, facility providers, regional staff from national governing bodies and sports and tourism professionals with an interest in bringing major new sports events to the South East. Further information and booking details for the conference are available by clicking here
Ends
Media contact:
David Rose at TSE on 023 8062 5464
Email: drose@tourismse.com
Notes:
Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex