6 Feb 2009
Freestyle BMX to be introduced at London 2012 Olympics
British Cycling's performance director yesterday told MPs, peers and bike big-wigs that street BMX would be at London Olympics
Dave Brailsford, British Cycling's performance director yesterday told MPs, peers and bike big-wigs that racing BMX would be joined by freestyle BMX at the London Olympics.[Pic shows Lord Berkeley, Dave Brailsford, Shanaze Reade, and Bernard Jenkin]."It's very strongly rumoured that 'park' BMX, or freestyle, will be introduced before the 2012 Olympics," said Brailsford in front of a select audience at a Westminster reception hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. To laughs from the audience, he said: "The information I'm getting is I'll be performance director of street BMX so I will have to go and get my hoodie and baggie shorts."(But which cycle discipline will have to be removed from the Olympics to make way for street BMX? The UCI does not have a good track record on this sort of decision).There are MP3 audio files of yesterday's reception here and here, or get them via iTunes. Brailsford was at the reception with BMX racer Shanaze Reade. His entertaining talk featured an aborted scheme to make Ed Clancy faster (it was all to do with cinching in Clancy's skinsuit at the collarbone) and he revealed the Beijing Olympics skinsuits have all been shredded for protection from industrial espionage.
The suits were made in cloak and dagger fashion, with the fabric sourcer and the hand-sewer unaware of each other's indentities.Brailsford also called for Britain's golden successes in the Beijing velodrome to lead to increased participation in cycling before the London Olympics in 2012. "What British Cycling is trying to do now is to take the same focus and drive as for the Olympic Games, and apply it to the participation drive," he said.Wearing jeans and a British Cycling shirt emblazoned with the Sky TV logo on the collar and arms, he praised the reach of the broadcaster, saying the commercial link-up between Sky and British Cycling was invaluable, especially at targetting children."We are aligned to increase participation through international success," said Brailsford. "It makes no sense my standing here as cycling performance director unless we connect back."The reception in the House of Commons also heard from Kulveer Ranger, Boris Johnson's transport chief, and David Brown, managing director for Surface Transport at Transport for London. They stressed the importance of having a cycling mayor and that they were charged with massively increasing cycling in London before 2012.The goal is to one in 10 commuters to travel by bike in London. Brown said that the velib-style bike hire scheme was currently accepting tenders for the running of the scheme, with 20+ companies putting in bids.
Dave Brailsford, British Cycling's performance director yesterday told MPs, peers and bike big-wigs that racing BMX would be joined by freestyle BMX at the London Olympics.[Pic shows Lord Berkeley, Dave Brailsford, Shanaze Reade, and Bernard Jenkin]."It's very strongly rumoured that 'park' BMX, or freestyle, will be introduced before the 2012 Olympics," said Brailsford in front of a select audience at a Westminster reception hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. To laughs from the audience, he said: "The information I'm getting is I'll be performance director of street BMX so I will have to go and get my hoodie and baggie shorts."(But which cycle discipline will have to be removed from the Olympics to make way for street BMX? The UCI does not have a good track record on this sort of decision).There are MP3 audio files of yesterday's reception here and here, or get them via iTunes. Brailsford was at the reception with BMX racer Shanaze Reade. His entertaining talk featured an aborted scheme to make Ed Clancy faster (it was all to do with cinching in Clancy's skinsuit at the collarbone) and he revealed the Beijing Olympics skinsuits have all been shredded for protection from industrial espionage.
The suits were made in cloak and dagger fashion, with the fabric sourcer and the hand-sewer unaware of each other's indentities.Brailsford also called for Britain's golden successes in the Beijing velodrome to lead to increased participation in cycling before the London Olympics in 2012. "What British Cycling is trying to do now is to take the same focus and drive as for the Olympic Games, and apply it to the participation drive," he said.Wearing jeans and a British Cycling shirt emblazoned with the Sky TV logo on the collar and arms, he praised the reach of the broadcaster, saying the commercial link-up between Sky and British Cycling was invaluable, especially at targetting children."We are aligned to increase participation through international success," said Brailsford. "It makes no sense my standing here as cycling performance director unless we connect back."The reception in the House of Commons also heard from Kulveer Ranger, Boris Johnson's transport chief, and David Brown, managing director for Surface Transport at Transport for London. They stressed the importance of having a cycling mayor and that they were charged with massively increasing cycling in London before 2012.The goal is to one in 10 commuters to travel by bike in London. Brown said that the velib-style bike hire scheme was currently accepting tenders for the running of the scheme, with 20+ companies putting in bids.
2012 Olympic costs on the rise again
At least 75 per cent of the London 2012 Olympic contingency fund is likely to be spent, leaving a cushion of just £500 million to cover unforeseen events or further financial crises, the Government revealed on Thursday.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell reiterated on Thursday that the public funding package of £9.3 billion would not be exceeded, but figures published in the annual Olympic report revealed that the financial crisis and cost pressures on venues had placed the contingency fund under strain.
Some £2bn of contingency funding has been set aside to bolster the Olympic Delivery Authority's construction budget of £6.01bn, but with a shortfall in predicted private sector funding and venue costs rising it is anticipated that at least £1.5bn of that will now be spent.
Only £500m has been allocated, largely to bail-out the private sector funding gap in the Olympic Village and media centre projects, but on Thursday the Government conceded that they anticipated another £1bn being required. That leaves a relatively small amount to cover unforeseen events and the potential extra call for security spending.
The report states: "The current forecast of the potential final cost of the programme, if all known cost pressures and opportunities were to materialise and assuming all programme contingency that has not been allocated were required, would be £7.52bn."
With an additional £1.23bn of public funds allocated to non-ODA funding that would take the total £8.75bn, leaving just £550m of the total public funding package of £9.3bn.
The annual report also revealed further striking increases in the cost of venues, which have risen by £97m in the last year and are projected to rise by a total of as much as £371m by 2012. In March 2007 the venues were costed at £996m, but according to yesterday's projections they could eventually run to £1.367bn. The main stadium has risen in cost by £43m to £547m in the last year, but the rise in venue construction costs has been offset by savings elsewhere in the project, most notably in the infrastructure transport budget.
"This shows we are on course to remain on budget despite the economic downturn," Jowell said.
Hugh Robertson, the Conservative Olympic spokesman, said: "It is a concern that the costs of the stadium keep rising. In a recession, with building cost inflation falling, costs should be going down not up."
Meanwhile it emerged that the Government Olympic Executive, the department of the DCMS that handles the Olympic project, has grown to 87 staff at an annual running cost in excess of £5m a year.
Some £2bn of contingency funding has been set aside to bolster the Olympic Delivery Authority's construction budget of £6.01bn, but with a shortfall in predicted private sector funding and venue costs rising it is anticipated that at least £1.5bn of that will now be spent.
Only £500m has been allocated, largely to bail-out the private sector funding gap in the Olympic Village and media centre projects, but on Thursday the Government conceded that they anticipated another £1bn being required. That leaves a relatively small amount to cover unforeseen events and the potential extra call for security spending.
The report states: "The current forecast of the potential final cost of the programme, if all known cost pressures and opportunities were to materialise and assuming all programme contingency that has not been allocated were required, would be £7.52bn."
With an additional £1.23bn of public funds allocated to non-ODA funding that would take the total £8.75bn, leaving just £550m of the total public funding package of £9.3bn.
The annual report also revealed further striking increases in the cost of venues, which have risen by £97m in the last year and are projected to rise by a total of as much as £371m by 2012. In March 2007 the venues were costed at £996m, but according to yesterday's projections they could eventually run to £1.367bn. The main stadium has risen in cost by £43m to £547m in the last year, but the rise in venue construction costs has been offset by savings elsewhere in the project, most notably in the infrastructure transport budget.
"This shows we are on course to remain on budget despite the economic downturn," Jowell said.
Hugh Robertson, the Conservative Olympic spokesman, said: "It is a concern that the costs of the stadium keep rising. In a recession, with building cost inflation falling, costs should be going down not up."
Meanwhile it emerged that the Government Olympic Executive, the department of the DCMS that handles the Olympic project, has grown to 87 staff at an annual running cost in excess of £5m a year.
Olympic roof gives London 2012 head's up
In Andy Dufresne parlance, it will cover the area of three and a half football pitches while the stadium will be taller than Nelson's column
Yes, the roof of the 2012 Olympic stadium began going up this week, in what is billed as a symbolic stage preparations for our Games.
Of course, it wouldn't be the same without the persistent doubts over a long-term tenant for the stadium, but let's build on the fact that it should be ready - the roof that is - in nine months or so. The main stadium is earmarked for summer 2011.
London's winning bid promised the International Olympic Committee that an athletics track would be part of the legacy।
Of course, it wouldn't be the same without the persistent doubts over a long-term tenant for the stadium, but let's build on the fact that it should be ready - the roof that is - in nine months or so. The main stadium is earmarked for summer 2011.
London's winning bid promised the International Olympic Committee that an athletics track would be part of the legacy।
Talks have taken place with rugby clubs while lower league football clubs could also be interested in using the stadium. In a hard stance on the stadium's legacy, Dee Doocey, chair of the London Assembly sport and tourism committee, said: "My instinct is that we have got to work jolly hard not to have a white elephant."
Anyway, judge for yourself on the latest pictures।
4 Feb 2009
Big screen is switched to Festival Square for 2012 Games
A GIANT television screen is set to be erected in Festival Square later this year as part of the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics.
The city council is bidding for funding from the Olympic Committee to put up the huge viewing screen in the city centre.It had hoped to place the screen on the Mound, having previously abandoned plans for Castle Street and Princess Mall.
But the threat of significant opposition from heritage groups and the National Galleries of Scotland lead council officials to press ahead with the alternative site at Festival Square.It is now expected proposals for the 25 square metre screen will be approved by members of the council's planning committee next week.The council must be able to have the screen in place by April 30 this year in order to qualify for funding from the Olympic Organising Committee.
It is hoped the screen will contribute to a growing "cultural quarter" on Lothian Road, where it will be sitting opposite the revamped Usher Hall and close to the newly opened Picture House music venue.It is expected to screen coverage of sporting and cultural events, such as Scottish international football and rugby matches, and coverage of the various Edinburgh festivals, in the years before the Olympics.It would then be used in the summer of 2012 to show highlights of the London Olympics. The screen would be available for use 24 hours a day, with sound available from 7am until 10pm every day.There will be no mainstream advertising on the screen, with costs covered by the Olympics organisers.Tollcross community councillor Paul Beswick said: "It is disingenuous to link it with the 2012 Olympics as they do not begin for another three and a half years. "If it was temporary for the purposes of displaying the Olympics then that would be acceptable, but there is no requirement for other content for the next three years." JP Kavanagh, the general manager of the Sheraton Hotel, added: "We are broadly in favour of the screen, but there simply isn't enough detail about how it will be managed."Unlike the other businesses here, we would have to live with this 24/7."Heritage watchdog The Cockburn Association said it was broadly in favour of the plans, saying the square "presently lacks vitality". John Bury, the council's head of planning, said noise would not be an issue, as the sound would only be audible in front of the screen, and would be shut off after 10pm.He also said major events at the screen would have to be properly licensed and controlled, and added that it could be a huge benefit to the area."The encouragement of activity in the square as originally envisaged has the potential to enhance the character of the conservation area," he added
The city council is bidding for funding from the Olympic Committee to put up the huge viewing screen in the city centre.It had hoped to place the screen on the Mound, having previously abandoned plans for Castle Street and Princess Mall.
But the threat of significant opposition from heritage groups and the National Galleries of Scotland lead council officials to press ahead with the alternative site at Festival Square.It is now expected proposals for the 25 square metre screen will be approved by members of the council's planning committee next week.The council must be able to have the screen in place by April 30 this year in order to qualify for funding from the Olympic Organising Committee.
It is hoped the screen will contribute to a growing "cultural quarter" on Lothian Road, where it will be sitting opposite the revamped Usher Hall and close to the newly opened Picture House music venue.It is expected to screen coverage of sporting and cultural events, such as Scottish international football and rugby matches, and coverage of the various Edinburgh festivals, in the years before the Olympics.It would then be used in the summer of 2012 to show highlights of the London Olympics. The screen would be available for use 24 hours a day, with sound available from 7am until 10pm every day.There will be no mainstream advertising on the screen, with costs covered by the Olympics organisers.Tollcross community councillor Paul Beswick said: "It is disingenuous to link it with the 2012 Olympics as they do not begin for another three and a half years. "If it was temporary for the purposes of displaying the Olympics then that would be acceptable, but there is no requirement for other content for the next three years." JP Kavanagh, the general manager of the Sheraton Hotel, added: "We are broadly in favour of the screen, but there simply isn't enough detail about how it will be managed."Unlike the other businesses here, we would have to live with this 24/7."Heritage watchdog The Cockburn Association said it was broadly in favour of the plans, saying the square "presently lacks vitality". John Bury, the council's head of planning, said noise would not be an issue, as the sound would only be audible in front of the screen, and would be shut off after 10pm.He also said major events at the screen would have to be properly licensed and controlled, and added that it could be a huge benefit to the area."The encouragement of activity in the square as originally envisaged has the potential to enhance the character of the conservation area," he added
Olympic contractors face marketing ban
Companies winning work on the London 2012 Olympics, one of the UK’s biggest business opportunities for generations, are being obliged to sign a contract forbidding them from marketing their involvement in the games.
The rules bar suppliers from issuing press releases, running advertising or any marketing or public relations campaigns publicising their link to the 2012 event as well as banning them from using the Olympic logos.
The No Marketing Rights Clauses protocol, drawn up by the Olympic authorities, even seeks to specify the tone suppliers adopt in internal communications with staff about their involvement in the games, stipulating it “should be undertaken in an understated, proportionate and regular fashion”.
The 32-page guidance website bars suppliers from creating games-related job titles: “London 2012 Co-ordinator”, “2012 Unit” or “Olympic Group” are all off limits.
Inclusion of the Olympic bodies on client lists is permitted only where at least nine other clients are mentioned. Recruitment advertising must not be “Olympified” in any way, through use of imagery, logos or undue emphasis.
The £9.3bn publicly funded event is expected to generate more than £6bn of contracts for businesses, with 7,000 directly awarded contracts and a further 68,000 in the supply chain.
The protocol devised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority is intended to protect the rights of the event’s official sponsors, vital contributors to the £2bn which must be raised from private sources. Tier one sponsors are paying £40m plus each, tier two sponsors £20m plus and tier three £10m on average.
“The London 2012 Organising Committee will strictly enforce its legal rights over the Protected Marks and seek to prevent all unauthorised associations with the games,” warns the website. Suppliers were not paying to receive the benefits of being an “official marketing partner” of the games.
However, business organisation say they are frustrated that the strict rules are preventing them from promoting to UK businesses the potential of 2012 Olympic procurement.
“Because of the very tight restrictions on marketing we are unable to promote that procurement opportunity,” said the British Chambers of Commerce. “Our hands are being tied by the very people promoting it, the ODA and LOCOG.”
The rules mean companies cannot easily use Olympic success as a means of bidding for more work. Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “It’s important to allow them to shout it from the rooftops, so their reputation is enhanced. We would urge the sponsors to calm down, relax and not resort to the letter of the law.”
LOCOG said: “We are doing our absolute best to ensure a measured and balanced approach, protecting the rights of our sponsors.” Breach could result in claim for damages, compensation or an injunction, but breaches so far had been resolved without recourse to law. “It’s education, not litigation,” said LOCOG.
The rules bar suppliers from issuing press releases, running advertising or any marketing or public relations campaigns publicising their link to the 2012 event as well as banning them from using the Olympic logos.
The No Marketing Rights Clauses protocol, drawn up by the Olympic authorities, even seeks to specify the tone suppliers adopt in internal communications with staff about their involvement in the games, stipulating it “should be undertaken in an understated, proportionate and regular fashion”.
The 32-page guidance website bars suppliers from creating games-related job titles: “London 2012 Co-ordinator”, “2012 Unit” or “Olympic Group” are all off limits.
Inclusion of the Olympic bodies on client lists is permitted only where at least nine other clients are mentioned. Recruitment advertising must not be “Olympified” in any way, through use of imagery, logos or undue emphasis.
The £9.3bn publicly funded event is expected to generate more than £6bn of contracts for businesses, with 7,000 directly awarded contracts and a further 68,000 in the supply chain.
The protocol devised by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and the Olympic Delivery Authority is intended to protect the rights of the event’s official sponsors, vital contributors to the £2bn which must be raised from private sources. Tier one sponsors are paying £40m plus each, tier two sponsors £20m plus and tier three £10m on average.
“The London 2012 Organising Committee will strictly enforce its legal rights over the Protected Marks and seek to prevent all unauthorised associations with the games,” warns the website. Suppliers were not paying to receive the benefits of being an “official marketing partner” of the games.
However, business organisation say they are frustrated that the strict rules are preventing them from promoting to UK businesses the potential of 2012 Olympic procurement.
“Because of the very tight restrictions on marketing we are unable to promote that procurement opportunity,” said the British Chambers of Commerce. “Our hands are being tied by the very people promoting it, the ODA and LOCOG.”
The rules mean companies cannot easily use Olympic success as a means of bidding for more work. Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “It’s important to allow them to shout it from the rooftops, so their reputation is enhanced. We would urge the sponsors to calm down, relax and not resort to the letter of the law.”
LOCOG said: “We are doing our absolute best to ensure a measured and balanced approach, protecting the rights of our sponsors.” Breach could result in claim for damages, compensation or an injunction, but breaches so far had been resolved without recourse to law. “It’s education, not litigation,” said LOCOG.
London 2012 Olympics IT progessing well, says chief integrator
Michele Heyron has quite a job on her hands. The chief integrator for the London 2012 Olympics is leading the team with responsibility for the event's technology, and as such is embarking on one of the world's biggest IT projects.
The 16-strong Atos Origin team was formed in November last year, and is working closely with other suppliers and the technology team at the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG).
Heyron has worked on Olympic Games IT since 1999, when Atos Origin first won the contract, and says she is comfortable with the four-year process. Throughout 2009, the team will be working on designing and building the IT systems needed to stage the event. Atos Origin needs to coordinate and oversee the work, getting everything in place before the extensive testing phase begins in 2010.
"The recession won't affect the project," she says. "We are always aiming to be more efficient, and the budget is always quite constrained."
Heyron has worked in a variety of roles to learn skills needed to lead the technology team. "I went to Athens as an integration manager, and Beijing as operations manager," she says. "In these two roles I learned a lot about all the different processes of the games, what the system integration is like, and how important it is to test all the systems in the venues exhaustively.
"It has also taught me how important it is to keep very focused on the plans from the beginning. We need to keep up to speed because we don't have any second chances."
London 2012 IT programme - The London Olympics IT team is in the first phase of the programme, which involves working on the planning strategies and architecture requirement, building the systems that are required. In 2010, the testing phase begins, which continues until the operational phase in 2012.
The IT section of the Olympic programme is taking steps to become more sustainable, Heyron says. The Beijing Olympics introduced the Commentators Information System (CIS) so journalists and commentators can get all the results and athlete information they need remotely, leading to fewer people travelling to the host city.
The wireless network being rolled out across the venues will limit the number of PCs LOCOG has to provide, as it will be easy for those to need access to the network to log on using their own computers. Heyron said the team is also looking at using virtualisation, and at ways of reducing use of paper.
Fergie says no to London 2012
Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected the overtures of the Prime Minister and Lord Sebastian Coe to manage a British football team at London 2012.
The Manchester United manager - who is widely regarded as one of, if not, the greatest coaches of all time - has previously indicated he would stand down at Old Trafford before turning 70.
Discussions between the 67-year-old Gordon Brown and chairman of the 2012 organising committee Coe have therefore amounted to nothing.
"No I won't turn to international management," Ferguson told the Inside United magazine.
"When I've finished here, I think I deserve a rest. After here, I'm finished."
The wily Scot's decision casts further doubt over whether there will even be a Great Britain side at 2012.
Despite assurances from Fifa, the football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have proved reluctant to join together for fear it could jeopardise their individual futures in international competition
The Manchester United manager - who is widely regarded as one of, if not, the greatest coaches of all time - has previously indicated he would stand down at Old Trafford before turning 70.
Discussions between the 67-year-old Gordon Brown and chairman of the 2012 organising committee Coe have therefore amounted to nothing.
"No I won't turn to international management," Ferguson told the Inside United magazine.
"When I've finished here, I think I deserve a rest. After here, I'm finished."
The wily Scot's decision casts further doubt over whether there will even be a Great Britain side at 2012.
Despite assurances from Fifa, the football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have proved reluctant to join together for fear it could jeopardise their individual futures in international competition
The fast-approaching London Olympics mean there's another exciting reason to get involved in events management
Large events have a tendency to make an enormously positive impact on the population of a city; the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester (pictured above, right), for example, did just that. Its legacy has led to increased student and industry interest in event management courses at Manchester Metropolitan University. In fact, sport management has emerged as a major growth area within the events sector.
The success of the Commonwealth Games - coupled with the eagerly awaited London 2012 - has encouraged the commercial world to address the shortfall of sport event managers within the UK. In light of this, many educational institutes are now collaborating with the governing bodies that are hosting regional, national, and international events to encourage a new wave of home-grown professionals.
The role of an event manager covers a multitude of skills. Essentially, such a person should have an excellent knowledge and understanding of business management: the typical event management course will attempt to compile an essential tool kit for future managers within its syllabus. It should cover project management, operations management and knowledge about health and safety. Once the foundations have been laid, courses will specialise in specific areas within the events sector. Sports events, festivals (such as T in the Park pictured above, left), and exhibition management, to name a few, are among the popular programmes in most universities.
Commercial partnerships are an essential part of events courses, as they enable students to have current and relevant experience while studying; as a result, employers remain a vital part of the event management teaching strategy. Graduates who have excelled on their student placements are frequently offered permanent employment through the company they have been placed with.
Industry benchmarks are set by a number of associations and cover each type of company operating within the events sector; in turn, these associations often have an educational arm. This is crucial for students and recent graduates to gain a greater understanding of the industry they intend to enter, as it encourages applied research and knowledge of current international and national developments, including any changes in legal requirements.
Hiscox, the commercial insurance company, has estimated that the events industry is worth £11bn to the UK economy; the industry has a financial responsibility to increase the standard of graduates so that they can perform successfully in a competitive marketplace. KPMG, the accounting and consulting firm, conducted a 2006 study of the event industry in the West Midlands, which revealed a £6bn contribution to the regional economy. That is not an amount that people can ignore, which the increasing interest in event management courses reflects.
Event management as a course in the UK made its first appearance at Leeds Metropolitan University back in 1996. However, the teaching of events management can now be found in educational institutes throughout the UK: a Ucas course search will reveal that over 60 institutions have a range of courses in event management. It can also be combined with many other subjects as a joint-honours course, giving graduates an added edge. The combinations available are not necessarily ones you would expect either: music or drama; countryside management; and even festival management with entrepreneurship or radio production. The majority of straight event management courses require two or three A-levels, with a minimum of 200 Ucas points for entry.
Courses are generally three years full-time, or four years with an industry placement or a full- or part-time Masters. A broad range of assessment is used on event management courses, as graduates need to be able to present information clearly and inventively to clients. Assessment will include reports, essays, presentations, seminar contributions and other practical work. A major final-year project will contribute to a significant portion of the overall grade.
Graduates find themselves working for event agencies, local authorities, independent event companies and international commercial operators. You could work on a myriad of different events designed to suit different clients - art galleries, bar and restaurant openings, team-building days, conferences for global companies, and product or campaign launches, for instance - with party numbers ranging from 5 to 5,000.
Although an exciting and glamorous industry, it's worth remembering that events are a lot of hard work: while guests are enjoying themselves at an event your firm has planned, you are busy working! However, the sense of achievement you get after a successful event is hard to beat.
The success of the Commonwealth Games - coupled with the eagerly awaited London 2012 - has encouraged the commercial world to address the shortfall of sport event managers within the UK. In light of this, many educational institutes are now collaborating with the governing bodies that are hosting regional, national, and international events to encourage a new wave of home-grown professionals.
The role of an event manager covers a multitude of skills. Essentially, such a person should have an excellent knowledge and understanding of business management: the typical event management course will attempt to compile an essential tool kit for future managers within its syllabus. It should cover project management, operations management and knowledge about health and safety. Once the foundations have been laid, courses will specialise in specific areas within the events sector. Sports events, festivals (such as T in the Park pictured above, left), and exhibition management, to name a few, are among the popular programmes in most universities.
Commercial partnerships are an essential part of events courses, as they enable students to have current and relevant experience while studying; as a result, employers remain a vital part of the event management teaching strategy. Graduates who have excelled on their student placements are frequently offered permanent employment through the company they have been placed with.
Industry benchmarks are set by a number of associations and cover each type of company operating within the events sector; in turn, these associations often have an educational arm. This is crucial for students and recent graduates to gain a greater understanding of the industry they intend to enter, as it encourages applied research and knowledge of current international and national developments, including any changes in legal requirements.
Hiscox, the commercial insurance company, has estimated that the events industry is worth £11bn to the UK economy; the industry has a financial responsibility to increase the standard of graduates so that they can perform successfully in a competitive marketplace. KPMG, the accounting and consulting firm, conducted a 2006 study of the event industry in the West Midlands, which revealed a £6bn contribution to the regional economy. That is not an amount that people can ignore, which the increasing interest in event management courses reflects.
Event management as a course in the UK made its first appearance at Leeds Metropolitan University back in 1996. However, the teaching of events management can now be found in educational institutes throughout the UK: a Ucas course search will reveal that over 60 institutions have a range of courses in event management. It can also be combined with many other subjects as a joint-honours course, giving graduates an added edge. The combinations available are not necessarily ones you would expect either: music or drama; countryside management; and even festival management with entrepreneurship or radio production. The majority of straight event management courses require two or three A-levels, with a minimum of 200 Ucas points for entry.
Courses are generally three years full-time, or four years with an industry placement or a full- or part-time Masters. A broad range of assessment is used on event management courses, as graduates need to be able to present information clearly and inventively to clients. Assessment will include reports, essays, presentations, seminar contributions and other practical work. A major final-year project will contribute to a significant portion of the overall grade.
Graduates find themselves working for event agencies, local authorities, independent event companies and international commercial operators. You could work on a myriad of different events designed to suit different clients - art galleries, bar and restaurant openings, team-building days, conferences for global companies, and product or campaign launches, for instance - with party numbers ranging from 5 to 5,000.
Although an exciting and glamorous industry, it's worth remembering that events are a lot of hard work: while guests are enjoying themselves at an event your firm has planned, you are busy working! However, the sense of achievement you get after a successful event is hard to beat.
Israel kicks off London 2012 campaign
Olympic Committee of Israel chairman Tzvi Varshaviak (pictured) announced on Sunday that Israel's goal for the 2012 London Olympic Games is to break through the glass ceiling and claim more medals than ever before.
Since judoka Yael Arad won Israel's first ever Olympic medal in 1992, the country's Olympic delegation has always managed to return from the Games with at least one medal, but never with more than two.
"It is about time we win more than two medals. We believe that this is within our capabilities," Varshaviak said at a press conference at Hadar Yosef in which the OCI announced its targets for the 2012 Games.
Since judoka Yael Arad won Israel's first ever Olympic medal in 1992, the country's Olympic delegation has always managed to return from the Games with at least one medal, but never with more than two.
"It is about time we win more than two medals. We believe that this is within our capabilities," Varshaviak said at a press conference at Hadar Yosef in which the OCI announced its targets for the 2012 Games.
Lloyds TSB launches Olympic mortgage
Lloyds TSB, Official Partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this week announces the launch of its 2012 3 Year Mortgage.
The new product provides customers with a £100 discount on the mortgage product fee. On completion, this will be matched with a £100 donation by the bank, split between Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
The offer is available on both Lloyds TSB and Cheltenham & Gloucester, three year fixed rate products, which will mature in 2012.
Stephen Noakes, marketing director at Lloyds TSB Mortgages, commented on the new offer: "This deal allows homeowners to use their essential mortgage spending to make a financial contribution towards the future success of our elite athletes, at no extra cost to themselves.
The discounted fee and market leading rates means this is one of the most competitive three year fixes available and customers can enjoy the security of this rate right through until 2012."
Andy Hunt, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association commented: "The support of our partners is essential to the success of Team GB It is great news that Lloyds TSB is looking at creative ways to raise additional funds and help our athletes on their journey to London 2012."
Phil Lane, CEO of ParalympicsGB said ‘We're delighted that Lloyds TSB and its customers will be supporting the British Paralympic team in such a practical way. We look forward to making them proud in London in 2012'
The new product provides customers with a £100 discount on the mortgage product fee. On completion, this will be matched with a £100 donation by the bank, split between Team GB and ParalympicsGB.
The offer is available on both Lloyds TSB and Cheltenham & Gloucester, three year fixed rate products, which will mature in 2012.
Stephen Noakes, marketing director at Lloyds TSB Mortgages, commented on the new offer: "This deal allows homeowners to use their essential mortgage spending to make a financial contribution towards the future success of our elite athletes, at no extra cost to themselves.
The discounted fee and market leading rates means this is one of the most competitive three year fixes available and customers can enjoy the security of this rate right through until 2012."
Andy Hunt, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association commented: "The support of our partners is essential to the success of Team GB It is great news that Lloyds TSB is looking at creative ways to raise additional funds and help our athletes on their journey to London 2012."
Phil Lane, CEO of ParalympicsGB said ‘We're delighted that Lloyds TSB and its customers will be supporting the British Paralympic team in such a practical way. We look forward to making them proud in London in 2012'
Freshfields appointed legal adviser to London 2012
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, one of the City's oldest and most successful law firms, has been appointed official legal adviser to the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Freshfields was chosen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) after a tender process at the end of last year.
The appointment will see Freshfields provide legal services at no cost to the organising committee on a variety of areas such as property, employment and sponsorship rights.
Up to half a dozen lawyers will be seconded from the law firm to the organising committee as a result of the arrangement.
Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, said: "Freshfields know the project inside out. They supported us during the bid and they will be a vital part of the team as we head towards 2012."
Guy Morton, Freshfields' senior partner, said: "We are proud that Freshfields will be providing the legal advice that this enormously complex event demands and welcome the opportunity to give practical support to the ideals of the Olympic movement."
Freshfields was chosen by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) after a tender process at the end of last year.
The appointment will see Freshfields provide legal services at no cost to the organising committee on a variety of areas such as property, employment and sponsorship rights.
Up to half a dozen lawyers will be seconded from the law firm to the organising committee as a result of the arrangement.
Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, said: "Freshfields know the project inside out. They supported us during the bid and they will be a vital part of the team as we head towards 2012."
Guy Morton, Freshfields' senior partner, said: "We are proud that Freshfields will be providing the legal advice that this enormously complex event demands and welcome the opportunity to give practical support to the ideals of the Olympic movement."
Schools help deliver the London 2012 message
A school project bringing together paralympians and disabled artists has been granted the London 2012 Inspire mark.
The Buckinghamshire Driving Inspiration project has been recognised for helping to deliver the message of the Games and is one of only three projects in the South East to achieve this award.
'Driving Inspiration' is about to launch another round of projects across five schools in Buckinghamshire. It will bring paralympians into schools to work with leading disabled artists to record the stories of the athletes through paintings, music, dance, theatre and writing.
Beaconsfield School had a visit from paralympian John Harris on Tuesday, who won a gold medal is discus and then transform what they have learnt into a piece of dance in March with the help of Signdance Collective.
Hertiage House School in Chesham were visited by Claire Strange, who was part of the basketball team and will also create a piece of work with Signdance Collective.
The work will be composing a piece of music inspired by the Paralympians and making welcome posters for the Games training camps.
All the pupils who take part will have their interviews with the paralympians published on Disability Arts online and will be the first time young people have had a voice
This project is part of Creative Bucks funded by all the local authorities in Buckinghamshire and the Arts Council England. It has also received support from Bucks 2012, WheelPower and Disability Arts Online.
The Buckinghamshire Driving Inspiration project has been recognised for helping to deliver the message of the Games and is one of only three projects in the South East to achieve this award.
'Driving Inspiration' is about to launch another round of projects across five schools in Buckinghamshire. It will bring paralympians into schools to work with leading disabled artists to record the stories of the athletes through paintings, music, dance, theatre and writing.
Beaconsfield School had a visit from paralympian John Harris on Tuesday, who won a gold medal is discus and then transform what they have learnt into a piece of dance in March with the help of Signdance Collective.
Hertiage House School in Chesham were visited by Claire Strange, who was part of the basketball team and will also create a piece of work with Signdance Collective.
The work will be composing a piece of music inspired by the Paralympians and making welcome posters for the Games training camps.
All the pupils who take part will have their interviews with the paralympians published on Disability Arts online and will be the first time young people have had a voice
This project is part of Creative Bucks funded by all the local authorities in Buckinghamshire and the Arts Council England. It has also received support from Bucks 2012, WheelPower and Disability Arts Online.
BRAILSFORD BACKS READE FOR LONDON GOLD
BMX rider Shanaze Reade will "put the record straight" and strike gold at the London 2012 Olympics, cycling performance director David Brailsford predicted.
The rider from Crewe crashed out of the Beijing Games in the BMX where she was hotly-tipped for gold.
But Brailsford, the driving force behind Team GB's cycle success in Beijing, said: "Shanaze is the best at what she does. She's the best in the world.
"It did not quite finish as we would have liked in Beijing because she was going for gold and not going to settle for a silver or bronze."
He was talking to MPs who gathered at a reception in the House of Commons to discuss the boom in cycling in London.
Brailsford said he can already imagine the scene where Reade strikes gold on home soil in 2012.
He said: "I think that 2012, from my point of view, is an absolutely dream scenario, not just for me personally, but also so that people like Shanaze can go back to put the record straight.
"I can see it now. It will be one of the highlights and I'm sure that she will do it."
He also said that it was important that every effort is made to ensure that the 2012 Games are well supported among the British public.
He said: "It is important that cycling does not become an elitist element and I think that we can do that because we are a great nation of supporters - I notice that from travelling around the world.
"We are a great nation and a nation who supports people and I'm sure we can make this the best event."
The rider from Crewe crashed out of the Beijing Games in the BMX where she was hotly-tipped for gold.
But Brailsford, the driving force behind Team GB's cycle success in Beijing, said: "Shanaze is the best at what she does. She's the best in the world.
"It did not quite finish as we would have liked in Beijing because she was going for gold and not going to settle for a silver or bronze."
He was talking to MPs who gathered at a reception in the House of Commons to discuss the boom in cycling in London.
Brailsford said he can already imagine the scene where Reade strikes gold on home soil in 2012.
He said: "I think that 2012, from my point of view, is an absolutely dream scenario, not just for me personally, but also so that people like Shanaze can go back to put the record straight.
"I can see it now. It will be one of the highlights and I'm sure that she will do it."
He also said that it was important that every effort is made to ensure that the 2012 Games are well supported among the British public.
He said: "It is important that cycling does not become an elitist element and I think that we can do that because we are a great nation of supporters - I notice that from travelling around the world.
"We are a great nation and a nation who supports people and I'm sure we can make this the best event."
Clubbing Together for 2012
A young fencing star from Somerset has received funding from the Team Somerset 500 Club; a partnership led by Somerset County Council.
Chris Hay, 16, is the latest Olympic hopeful to be sponsored by the Team Somerset 500 Club. Number one in his age group, Chris is coached in Wellington by former international fencing champion, Cefi Felletar, and has been representing Great Britain since the age of 13. He received a cheque for £500 from Bridgwater building contractor, Henry W. Pollard & Sons, who are one of many organisations to have joined the Team Somerset 500 Club.
The Team Somerset 500 Club was established to encourage local businesses and individuals to provide financial support for the County's young athletes. Donors are asked to donate £500 a year in the run up to the London 2012 Games. Funds are then used to support Somerset's talented able-bodied and disabled athletes, and encourage wider participation in sport and healthier lifestyles up to and beyond 2012.
Councillor Alan Gloak, Chairman of Somerset County Council, said: "The Team Somerset 500 Club assists young athletes with the financial pressures of competing on a professional level. Donations make an important contribution towards training and specialist equipment, helping Somerset's Olympic hopefuls develop their skills in a safe environment."
Chris Hay, 16, is the latest Olympic hopeful to be sponsored by the Team Somerset 500 Club. Number one in his age group, Chris is coached in Wellington by former international fencing champion, Cefi Felletar, and has been representing Great Britain since the age of 13. He received a cheque for £500 from Bridgwater building contractor, Henry W. Pollard & Sons, who are one of many organisations to have joined the Team Somerset 500 Club.
The Team Somerset 500 Club was established to encourage local businesses and individuals to provide financial support for the County's young athletes. Donors are asked to donate £500 a year in the run up to the London 2012 Games. Funds are then used to support Somerset's talented able-bodied and disabled athletes, and encourage wider participation in sport and healthier lifestyles up to and beyond 2012.
Councillor Alan Gloak, Chairman of Somerset County Council, said: "The Team Somerset 500 Club assists young athletes with the financial pressures of competing on a professional level. Donations make an important contribution towards training and specialist equipment, helping Somerset's Olympic hopefuls develop their skills in a safe environment."
Sports Minister backs Heathrow checks for London 2012 drug cheats
Athletes looking to cheat their way to glory at the Olympic Games in London in 2012 might not even make it past Customs at Heathrow after the announcement yesterday of an even tougher stance in the fight against drugs in sport. A new National Anti-Doping Organisation has been set up and will work in tandem with law enforcement agencies in Britain. It will replace UK Anti-Doping from the end of this year.Not only will it be looking to catch athletes who use drugs but primarily to break the supply chain of illegal products.
‘To be truly effective, we need the ability to target the manufacturers, traffickers and suppliers of prohibited substances,’ said Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe, speaking at a UK Sport drugs conference in London. ‘The involvement of law enforcement agencies means it is not just the athlete, it is the team around the athlete. Some athletes are put into difficult positions by their coaches and organisations around them and it is important those people are also put under pressure. ‘People want to have athletes as role models. That is why it is sad when you see things like Michael Phelps the other day. They are role models and they have a great responsibility.’
‘To be truly effective, we need the ability to target the manufacturers, traffickers and suppliers of prohibited substances,’ said Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe, speaking at a UK Sport drugs conference in London. ‘The involvement of law enforcement agencies means it is not just the athlete, it is the team around the athlete. Some athletes are put into difficult positions by their coaches and organisations around them and it is important those people are also put under pressure. ‘People want to have athletes as role models. That is why it is sad when you see things like Michael Phelps the other day. They are role models and they have a great responsibility.’
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