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Brian Barwick to lead Team
Liverpool's Commonwealth Games bid
SPORTS executive Brian Barwick is to Chair Liverpool's bid to host the
Commonwealth Games.
The 62 year old Liverpudlian; who is Chair of the Rugby Football League (RFL),
Super League Europe Ltd, the National League and a member of the FA Council;
will spearhead the City's drive to secure the event in 2026, or 2022 should the
UK host the Commonwealth Games following Durban's recent withdrawal.
The former head of BBC Sport, controller of ITV Sport and Chief Executive of the
Football Association will lead:- 'Team Liverpool' - a group
of world leading experts with an unparalleled track record in successfully
bidding for major sporting events, including:- the Olympic Games, the
Commonwealth Games and the FIFA World Cup.
Brian Barwick said:- "Having worked in and around sport
most of my adult life, the chance to lead the work for my home City of Liverpool
to host the Commonwealth Games is a huge privilege. I am delighted to be
involved in this project and clear that Liverpool, with such an illustrious
sports history, will make the perfect host City for the Commonwealth Games. I
have already spent some time with the team and am very impressed with their
enthusiasm and expertise." Mayor
of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "I am delighted that Brian Barwick has
accepted my invitation to Chair the City's bid to host the Commonwealth Games.
He brings a wealth of experience both as a leader of some of the biggest sports
organisations in the country and a successful career at the highest level in TV
sport. Brian's appointment, alongside a number of other highly respected
advisors, sends out a powerful message that we are deadly serious about bidding
for the games. We already have a first class reputation in putting on major
events during and since our time as European Capital of Culture in 2008. I
firmly believe we have the passion, belief and the ability to win and deliver a
Commonwealth Games that can make the whole country and the Commonwealth proud.
The Commonwealth Games has the potential to be a game changer in further driving
forward the City's regeneration and renaissance, reflecting our growing
confidence and attracting jobs, investment and profile that money simply can't
buy, putting us on the world map. The team of advisers now working with us is
world class and over the coming months our priority is to put in place a
compelling bid that will resonate with the Government, Commonwealth Games
England and, ultimately, the Commonwealth Games Federation. These are exciting
times for our City."
Working with Brian and the Mayor will be 1 of the most prominent and respected
women in sport Dr Denise Barrett Baxendale who is a Director at Everton Football
Club and an Executive Chair of Everton in the Community. Denise will be taking
on the role of Deputy Chair of Liverpool's bid.
Professor Barrett Baxendale, said:- "Liverpool has proven itself time and
again as a natural home for world class events. I am incredibly proud to be part
of Team Liverpool, working on a Commonwealth Games bid that will engage and
excite the community in sporting activity."
The advisors who will be working on the bid are...
Strategic Advisors and Project Managers:-
4 global Consulting has acted as strategic advisors to Liverpool to date,
helping the City understand the expectations of the Commonwealth Games
Federation by developing a road map of work to be undertaken to enable delivery
of a strong and credible bid. 4global senior team members have worked
extensively in the major events arena for over 25 years and have a long and
successful track record of advising clients and coordinating the work of multi
disciplinary feasibility and bidding teams for Commonwealth, Olympic and
Paralympic Games; Youth Olympics; European Games and Football, Cricket and Rugby
World Cups. Financial Feasibility
and Economic Impact Assessment:-
Deloitte LLP who worked on the bid and delivery of the 2012 London Olympic and
Paralympic Games and have supported a number of other major sporting events,
including Ireland's bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and Liverpool's campaign to
be a host City for the 2018 World Cup bid.
Technical Feasibility:-
Wilson Owens Owens (WOO) led the design of the London 2012 Olympic Games and
Paralympic Games from the initial bid masterplan proposals through to the final
hour of the closing ceremony. They have recently completed the event design and
planning for the Rugby World Cup in 2015, and lead the design for both the Rome
2024 Olympic Bid, and the Boston 2024 USOC Bid. They are a unique firm that
offers both innovated architectural design and event planning, backed by
unrivalled experience in the global event industry.
PR and Communications:-
Vero Communications headed by a team who were part of the successful London 2012
Olympic Games and Paralympic Games bid, and have subsequently worked on
successful bids for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio, the 2018 Games
in PyeongChang, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Seb Coe's campaign to become IAAF President, Gianni Infantino's campaign to become FIFA President, Fenway
Sports takeover of Liverpool FC in 2010 and the current bid by Paris to secure
the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Bid Brand:-
With a focus on international sports and the major event sectors, the Brand Oath
team have delivered design and branding solutions to various global cities
bidding to host major events such as London 2012 Olympics and Glasgow 2014
Commonwealth Games. In addition to their bid projects they also work with a
number of national and international governing bodies such as Scottish Rugby,
British Rowing and Azerbaijan Football Association.
An intense 3 to 6 month period of activity will now get underway to put together
the strongest possible case for Liverpool to be the host City, looking at venues
for sports events such as ACC Liverpool and the proposed new Everton FC stadium
at Bramley Moore against the technical requirements set by the Commonwealth
Games Federation.
Local sporting stars including:- heptathlon Katarina Johnson Thompson, boxer
Tony Bellew, gymnast Beth Tweddle and footballer Jamie Carragher have already
backed Liverpool's bid.
A budget of up to ₤500,000 has been set aside for Liverpool's bid. If
successful, Liverpool would follow Glasgow; the most recent UK City to host the
Games in 2014; which estimated the event brought in ₤100 million to the City's
economy.
What they say:-
"The CGF's Strategic Plan entitled 'Transformation 2022' sets out its guiding
principles for both the Commonwealth Movement and the Games and confirms its
'strong commitment to and respect of human rights, environment and
sustainability, health, safety and wellbeing as well as accessibility and
inclusivity?. These values align closely with Liverpool's vision for an
inclusive Games that will embrace and involve every community via an innovative
and inspirational event." Peter Mann, Partner 4 global.
"Having worked all around the world on similar projects, I am so proud and
excited to help the City I grew up in, win the honour of hosting the
Commonwealth Games." Bernie Shaw-Binns, Brand Oath Founder and Creative
Strategy Director.
"It is fantastic to be part of the team to bring the Commonwealth Games to
Liverpool. We are passionate to celebrate the very best of Liverpool and deliver
the best ever Commonwealth Games for the City and its people. It is an
opportunity we are proud to be part of and we are determined to play our part in
the strongest Liverpool bid. As a Liverpudlian, this appointment is extra
special for me, when it's your home Town it really counts, and it carries that
extra bit of magic." Kevin Owens, Director of Wilson Owens Owens.
"We are thrilled to be working with the City in its bid to host the Commonwealth
Games and looking forward to helping it create a compelling case to bring the
event to Liverpool. The City is fast becoming a major player in staging sports
and other events and its ambition to host the Commonwealth Games is a logical
next step." John Zerafa, VERO Director.
"We are delighted to be part of Team Liverpool's Commonwealth Games bid and will
bring to bear our expertise in major events and the business of sport. Our team,
led by Neil Wood, former CFO of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, has a
deep understanding of the finances of delivering major sporting events and the
positive economic impact that can result. We were committed partners for
London's bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 and are
enthusiastic about the benefits that can be delivered to Liverpool and the wider
region from a successful bid for, and delivery of, the Commonwealth Games."
Sean Beech, head of Deloitte's Liverpool officen |
