With approximately 500 days remaining before the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, this is a question many are asking.  Since the Olympics were awarded to London, the London Organising Committee (LOCOG) has been moving full tilt, drawing on everything ‘London’, from the one-of-a-kind buildings to leveraging the city’s international flavour.

However, with all of this movement taking place, a certain degree of negativity and skepticism still colours public and media opinion.  Will the country who is expected to host one of the greatest Games in modern times be able to right itself in time?

This is not the first time that the International Olympic Committee has seen a country divided in its support of the Games, as negative public opinion also reigned in the lead-up to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This was not simply a price tag issue, but an acute lack of confidence in the country’s overall ability to deliver on a global scale. Emerging from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, coupled with the belief that Canada was bound to be outshone by the spectacle put on for the world two years prior in Beijing, the lead up to the Games was anything but a celebration.

Unlike Canada however, the UK is acutely aware, if so desired, that they can deliver a world-class event. Less than a decade ago, in 2002, this country played host to two of the greatest and most widely publicised events in recent UK history: the Queen’s Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester. These two globally scrutinized events were both marked by tremendous skepticism by British citizens in the months and years preceding them. There were even predictions in the media that the Queen’s Jubilee would be a ‘non-event’, and that the Commonwealth Games were nothing but a poor financial investment that would indubitably burden the local citizens.

Nonetheless, the 2002 Commonwealth Games turned out to be the largest in history at the time, and has commonly been referred to as the most successful multi-sport event to be held in the UK since the 1948 Olympics. Furthermore, the success of hosting the Commonwealth Games demonstrated to the world that the UK was more than capable of hosting events of such magnitude, and this played a significant part in securing the 2012 Olympic Games for London.

While the success of LOCOG and sponsor planning will only be truly realised when the Opening Ceremony begins on July 27th, 2012, like past Games, the present skepticism will continue to be eroded as the Games become more tangible and imminent to the public.  One key tool in rallying the nation’s support will be the Olympic Torch Relay (OTR), set to commence 70 days before the Opening Ceremonies. The OTR, which will be so far-reaching and all-encompassing that 95% of the UK will be within one hour’s drive from it, is the greatest asset of the Olympic Games to bolster support and ignite fervour and enthusiasm.

The OTR, which acts as the prelude to the Games, has the unique ability to touch people in their hometown, on their doorstep.  Local heroes will pass the Olympic Flame across the country, and overall the OTR will serve as a 70-day celebration of what and who this country is comprised of.  It will allow everyone to experience a little part of the Olympics on their own home turf, and to incite that enthusiasm and patriotism.  Just as in Canada, it was not until the flame began its journey across the country that the wave of excitement was generated and intensified, and Canadians realised the power of what they were hosting.

It may take a while yet before all the UK’s citizens come around and celebrate hosting the Games, but hopefully prior to when the Olympic Torch Relay commences.  However, if the 2010 Torch Relay throughout Canada was able to rally its 33.7 million citizens to support the 2010 Games given an even greater hurdle of public opinion, then I can only assume that the 2012 OTR will have an even greater ability to appeal to its 60+ million UK residents.

I predict that national pride will take hold and that the hearts and minds of the nation will be captured in a frenzy of patriotism. The Olympic flame will ignite a fever that will spread from coast-to-coast with the Torch Relay and we will all be smitten by the Opening Ceremony, at which point the responsibility is passed on to the athletes to show the world what they’re made of.

The eyes of the world will be upon us, as the UK prepares for perhaps the only event that can eclipse a Royal Wedding: the greatest and most successful Olympic Games in history.

By Melissa Oberman on January 27th, 2011

Tags: Beijing 2008, BOA, Commonwealth Games, London 2012, Olympic Torch Relay, Olympics, Winter Olympics

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This has been the question for many athletes and officials across the Commonwealth over the last few days. As is often the case with any major sporting championship, media scepticism tends to reach a peak just before the event begins, with huge attention focused on security, drugs scandals, infrastructure and much else.

For most, the turning point for this pre-event trepidation is the first moment of the Opening Ceremony with feelings of cynicism and concern being immediately replaced with excitement and enthusiasm. However, with under a week to go until the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, I’m not so sure this is going to be the case.

Concerns surrounding the efficient delivery of the Games have been widely voiced since Delhi was awarded the event in 2003, however, they reached new heights last week when a footbridge outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium collapsed. Whilst the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, couldn’t understand the alarm (Quote: “The footbridge was not meant for athletes and delegates. It was for the use of the common man”. Well, that’s OK then), the incident has triggered outrage with many more serious problems now being exposed.

As with any major event, potential terrorist attacks and security are always a concern. Attention on Delhi, though, has now focused on the images of the athletes’ accommodation released last week. Not only are many areas still unfinished (it was announced today that everything will be completed by Wednesday – four days before the Opening Ceremony), but they showed horrendous levels of hygiene.

(c) BBC Sport - Images of the athletes' accommodation

As I write this, the England team are due to enter the athletes’ village, but they will be without high profile athletes such as Phillips Idowu, Christine Ohuruogu and Lisa Dobriskey. Whilst the two latter athletes pulled out because of ‘injury’, Phillips pulled out because of concerns over his safety . “Sorry people, but I have children to think about,” he said via Twitter. “My safety is more important to them than a medal.”

Whilst he is said to be disappointed not to be competing, his absence and that of many other high-profile British athletes raises other questions about the stature of the event. Putting aside all the concerns over security, safety and uncompleted venues, even if these were all in hand and the Games were fully supported and expected to take place without any further hitches, it needs to be asked as to whether the event still holds its place as a major placeholder in the sporting calendar?

English hurdler Natasha Danvers appeared on BBC Breakfast last week and voiced her thoughts on whether the event has had its day and is still as appealing as before. She quite rightly summed up that for a GB Track and Field athlete, there are many other competitions that are simply more important. 2010 has already witnessed the European Championships, and with the Commonwealth Games being pushed back to October many athletes had already decided not to compete as they are now entering into their winter training schedule in order to be on track for the IAAF World Championships next year, and even more importantly the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

So, when the news of the collapsed bridge and appalling athletes’ accommodation came to the fore, it perhaps wasn’t that hard a decision for some more athletes to withdraw. On the other hand, however, for other competitors the decision hasn’t been as easy, as this event is still of the utmost importance to them.

With GB athletes competing in the vest of their home countries, the Commonwealth Games often offer the opportunity for other athletes to represent their country who might not otherwise get the chance to wear a national vest. It certainly isn’t an easy decision for them to forsake years of preparation and training for what may be for some their only chance of national pride.

The media attention is continuing with further controversy and outrage unfolding on a daily basis, and the jury is out on whether Delhi can recover from its current problems and somehow deliver a successful event. But, albeit that Glasgow is already committed to stage the Games in 2014, are we witnessing the beginning of the end for the Commonwealths?

Personally, having experienced a Commonwealth Games first-hand when I spent two amazing weeks working with one of the top-tier sponsors in Manchester in 2002, Guardian Media Group, I hope not. However, as always, only time will tell.

By Sara Wilson on September 27th, 2010

Tags: Athletics, Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014, London 2012, London 2012 sponsorship, London 2012 sponsorship consultants, Olympic sponsorship, Olympic sponsorship consultants, Olympics, Sport, Team GB

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Mud-slinging is not an event at the Delhi Commonwealth Games in September, but it just as well might be.

It appears all is not well in Delhi.

On August 16 organisers said the venues would be ready by August 25th. That was yesterday. Has there been confirmation? I’m still looking.

Members of the Organising Committee have been suspended for alleged corruption or, in other words, fingers in the till. Indian Railways, the event’s largest sponsor, is withholding a payment of $30million because they say the money is going to “outside parties”, not to the Games themselves.

One of those “outside parties” is reported to be the international sports marketing company, Sports Marketing and Management (SMAM), but its MD, Mike Bushell, says he hasn’t been paid anything and is claiming a minimum of $12million in compensation. FastTrack has also been dragged into the mire but, interestingly, both companies have been defended by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) suggesting a serious divide between CGF (the Governing Body) and the local Organising Committee (OC).

Even the Queen has been dragged in, reportedly being in a “cold fury” about the allegations which reflect upon the Queen’s Baton Relay which she launched in London last October.

Undeniably, it’s all a bit of a mess, but as you read the many attempts to gloss over the difficulties and paint a brighter picture, you can’t help hoping that once the Games start, all these grimey stories will fade into the background.

Because, even though the Commonwealth Games may not carry the same kudos as major global events such as the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup, they do bring out the inevitable national fervour in those Commonwealth countries that participate. And, in the case of many of those countries (our own home nations to name but four), medals are a possibility precisely because other, stronger countries cannot take part.

We may not be stuck to the TV, computers and other digital devices in quite the same numbers as we will be when the Olympic Games come to London, but a large proportion of the nation will enjoy the events, the competition, the personal endeavour stories and, above all else, the success stories.

Because this is what the Olympics, the World Cup and, yes, the Commonwealth Games all have in common – the sense of excitement and achievement; the admiration of those many athletes who spend hours training for their one moment of glory. And it’s our sense of patriotism – we love it when our country wins.

So, even if some in Glasgow have been watching with some horror at the goings-on in Delhi and secretly wondering why they spent so much money and effort in securing the Commonwealth Games for 2014, I suggest they can relax in the knowledge that it will all come out right on the Opening Ceremony night and they will bring the flag back to Glasgow after the Closing Ceremony with eager anticipation for the next four years.

All the Glasgow Organising Committee has to do is ensure that the Games are well-organised, that there’s not a whiff of scandal and – oh did we mention this before? – that there are no security breaches.  If there’s one of those in Delhi, that would be a much more serious issue to get over.  Fingers crossed there won’t be.

By Karen Earl on August 26th, 2010

Tags: Commonwealth Games, Default, Glasgow 2014, London 2012, Olympics, World Cup

1 comment

I’ve debated in this forum previously, the merits of various activities calling themselves “sport”. In a nutshell, sport is competitive activity that can be won outright and which raises a sweat through the competitor working physically for his or her victory. Thus running, jumping and swimming are sports. Darts, golf and anything synchronised are not.

Whither motorsport? Clearly a machine bears the brunt of the load, but having lived in Formula One for a while, I can testify that F1 drivers definitely sweat in pursuit of victory and need to be fine physical specimens in order to pilot their machines at all. Motor racing, and Formula One in particular, is definitely a sport.

But not according to the Indian government.

India’s aspirations to join the developed world as a sporting venue are well documented. The Commonwealth Games beckons and F1 is supposed to visit an as-yet un-built circuit somewhere in Uttar Pradesh in 2011.

F1 has a record of attendant commercial prosperity: witness the annual $500m delivered in attributable commercial benefit to Bahrain and the (admittedly unlikely) $570m claimed by Valencia in relation to its 2008 race. F1, commercially speaking, will be A Good Thing for the good people of Uttar Pradesh.

Which makes it surprising that the Indian authorities this week refused to allow a special tax allowance to the company seeking to build the circuit and promote the Grand Prix, on the grounds that Formula One is not a sport. The tax allowance relates to foreign currency transfers and applies to sport, but not to entertainment.

F1 has been deemed an “entertainment” rather than a sport (please, Indian government, what is the difference?) and, more pertinently, a “commercial exercise” (again, what is the difference?) and therefore not eligible for the allowance.

This decision will cost the promoter about $36.5m. Not enough to slow development, but enough to leave a sour taste in the mouths of those seeking to develop one of the world’s emerging economies through the unifying medium of sport.

Shame on you India. This is a very poor advertisement for your country as a sporting venue and one which will, for a while, drive potential investors elsewhere.

By Scott Garrett on August 26th, 2009

Tags: Commonwealth Games, Formula 1, Politics, Sport

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A year ago Engine took part in the annual NABS netball tournament.  I wrote a blog about it and signed off with ‘I make a pledge here and now that by the time London is hosting the greatest games on earth you’ll see Engine’s name engraved on the NABS netball trophy.’ 

Well, in true Synergy and Engine style we have delivered and three years early as well!

Engine's NABS netball team

The Engine girls took to the court and despite taking awhile to warm up, we sailed through to the plate section of the tournament. Success in the quarter and semi-finals took us through to the Plate Grand Final against RKCR/Y&R. It was a close run game but a storming performance by Natalie Parish of WCRS – later voted player of the tournament -secured Engine their first NABS netball title. Congratulations ladies and here’s to another win next year!

For those who read my blog last year, you may be interested to know that the number of supporters campaigning for netball to become an Olympic sport on Facebook has more than quadrupled with over 40,000 members.

By Caroline Ayling on August 3rd, 2009

Tags: Commonwealth Games, Default, Employee engagement, Facebook, London 2012, Olympics, Sport, Synergy

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