New faces at the top
Manchester 2002 has two new chairmen and a new chief executive
Charles Allen, chief executive of the Granada Group and one of the UK’s most successful business leaders is chairman with international and national responsibilities. Mr Allen has held financial and management positions in several major companies before taking over the Granada Group. Accepting the appointment he said: “The Commonwealth Games is an international event that will be superb for the whole nation. I am delighted and excited to become chairman and look forward to working with the Government, Manchester 2002, the City Council and with everyone who will share in this vibrant experience.”
Rodger Pannone is Senior Partner of one of the country’s leading law firms, which has its headquarters in Manchester. His role will be to ensure the whole of the region is involved in the Games and will benefit from a lasting legacy from hosting the event. Mr Pannone was president of the Law Society in 1993-4 and adviser to the Lord Chancellor on the Civil Justice Review.
Frances Done, formerly chief executive and treasurer of Rochdale Council, is the new chief executive for the Games. She previously worked as an accountant for KPMG and was chair of Manchester
City Council’s Finance Committee in the 1980′s. Speaking about the appointment Frances Done said: “This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity and I am delighted to be taking it on. Manchester is known throughout the world for Manchester United, but I think the games will build on that and help put us and the North West on the global sports map. It will also leave a legacy of some excellent sports venues.”
Manchester 2002 team up with United Utilities
United Utilities, one of the North West’s leading companies, has given the Games a massive seal of approval after agreeing to back the 2002 event. As part of the sponsorship deal, which was signed at the Manchester Evening News Arena in January, United Utilities has bought 10,000 tickets for Games events. These will be given away to community groups to enable people across the region to experience this once-in-a-lifetime sporting festival.
John Roberts, chief executive of Warrington based United Utilities, the parent company of North West Water and Norweb, said: “This will be the biggest ever sporting event in the UK and the biggest in the world in 2002.
“It is fantastic that it is being held in the North West and our support falls neatly into line with the company’s policy of supporting local communities. I’m sure other North West and national businesses will follow suit in giving their support to an event that involves the whole country.”
The sponsorship deal also brings a range of other benefits to the Games organisers including the hosting of a major exhibition of sporting photography, the running of a series of information seminars for regional businesses and funding towards the Games Legacy Programme.
The Rt. Hon Ian McCartney has also brought the welcome news that the Government will provide substantial financial backing to underwrite the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in 2002. This will ensure Manchester can put on a show worthy of a global television audience, one that will demonstrate the very best of British creativity and style. Mr McCartney also confirmed that the Games will be the centrepiece of national celebrations for HM The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Year, which falls in 2002.
Progress on the venues
Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled the foundation stone for the City of Manchester Stadium at Eastlands in December.
Groundworks on the site are now complete and piling works are underway. Laing is due to start above ground construction work on the 38,000-seat stadium shortly.
Detailed design work is currently being carried out on the Sports Institute, a critical component of the Sport City development, with a planning application due to be submitted later in the year. The Institute will include the Indoor Tennis Centre, the National Squash Centre and a permanent outdoor athletics track. Work is also progressing on the associated commercial and leisure developments planned on adjacent land.
The Manchester 50 Pools on Oxford Road, close to the University, is set to be completed this summer. The £32.2 million complex will be the venue for swimming, synchronised swimming and diving events during the Games. Manchester 50 Pools have been designed to be one of the country’s most comprehensive swimming facilities. There will be two 50-metre pools; one with eight lanes for competition and one with four lanes for training, a diving pool and a leisure pool with flumes, water slides and bubble pools. Permanent seating for 1,500 will be boosted to around 2,500 in 2002.
Planning permission has been granted for the creation of four flat bowling greens at Heaton Park, which will provide the venue for the Lawn Bowling event. Work is due to start on these at the end of May, with the turf to be laid in September. The greens should be available for use from July 2001.
On the starting blocks
Manchester 2002 has developed an innovative sporting programme, in close consultation with sport’s governing bodies, to optimise the success of the Games. Setting a new precedent, athletics will begin the programme, ensuring public attention is secured immediately with a very strong first weekend of sport. The pace will continue with a constant series of finals on a daily basis, the climax to the Games being the hugely popular Rugby Sevens competition. More than a million tickets in all will be available for events in the Games programme.