Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Fifth Report

FIFTH REPORT

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has agreed to the following Report:

REVISITING THE MANCHESTER 2002 COMMONWEALTH GAMES

 

I SUMMARY

1. With less than eighty days to go to the opening of "Manchester 2002" on 25 July, the preparations for the biggest Commonwealth Games ever are nearing their final stages.[1] A great deal of time and effort has been invested in the Games, together with significant funding from Manchester City Council (MCC), the Government, Sport England and the Arts Council (for the linked Spirit of Friendship Festival). Together with the target of delivering a successful Games, Manchester 2002 Limited (M2002) aims to leave behind major sports facilities for generations to come and, through the Commonwealth Games Opportunities and Legacy Partnership, to encourage lasting economic and social regeneration in the North West Region.[2]
2. The previous Culture, Media and Sport Committee reported on the Commonwealth Games preparations in 1999 and followed up this work in 2001.[3] Since our establishment, we have taken an interest in the Games without announcing a formal inquiry. Under a 2 July 2001 supplementary funding agreement, an extra £105 million was allocated to the Games by the Government, Sport England and Manchester City Council, of which £25 million was held in a contingency fund.[4] Together with M2002's own "Success Factors" initiative, the Games are likely to be judged a success ultimately by their ability to remain within this final allocation of funds.[5]
3. We set out below a list of our key conclusions and recommendations drawn from the main body of this Report.

1. We are certain that this country's international reputation as a host for the most important sporting events rests upon the success of the Manchester Commonwealth Games. (paragraph 8)
2. We are encouraged by the developments in the organisational structure of Manchester 2002 Limited (M2002), and the continued engagement of the public funding partners in the key strategic and financial decisions. We recommend that the relatively late creation of the crucial Chief Operations Officer post be considered amongst the lessons to be learned from the Games and included in the Legacy document to be prepared by M2002. (paragraph 11)
3.  We expect a clear statement to be made by M2002 Ltd breaking down any spending from the July 2001 contingency fund after the Games have concluded. (paragraph 14)
4. We consider that M2002 should be congratulated for developing an inclusive ticketing and entertainment strategy, and we look forward to receiving future updates from M2002 on ticket sales levels, particularly those from venue outlets and the sale of community ticket packages. (paragraph 18)
5. Despite public attention being focused on the World Cup, the Committee expects to see greater promotion of the Games nationwide: both in the final months before the opening ceremony and continuing to the closing of the Games. (paragraph 23)
6. Whilst the latest news from M2002 is encouraging, we recommend that M2002 opens further stores—or promote its product lines in stores outside Manchester—particularly in international airports, to gain maximum exposure of the Games brand. We consider that M2002 should build on the major UK brands already included as licensees and ensure that Games merchandising lives up to the promises of customer satisfaction and national awareness of the products available. We believe that the measures for the success of the marketing department should include product sales figures. (paragraph 24)
7. It remains a key challenge for M2002 to accommodate the Games family, and the Committee is reassured that M2002 is working to develop the necessary plans for overflow accommodation. It is for M2002 to recommend changes in Games practice to the Commonwealth Games Federation and we would expect to see such recommendations as part of the Legacy document prepared by M2002 after the Games. (paragraph 26)
8. We believe that the effective implementation of M2002's transport strategy is vital to a safe and enjoyable Games. We welcome the measures that have been taken by M2002 so far to tackle the challenge of the huge numbers of visitors expected at the events. (paragraph 28)
9. The Committee acknowledges that many of the venues have already been used for sporting events and are encouraged that detailed operating tests are planned for those not yet in use. (paragraph 29)
10. In evidence to the previous Committee, the Cabinet Office Minister responsible for the Games said that he was keen that both the Government and this Committee examine the lessons learned from the partnership formed between Government and the organisers. We recommend that this partnership be examined within the Legacy document to be prepared by M2002 after the Games. (paragraph 30)
11.  The Committee recommends that an assessment of the successful employment of volunteers after the Games be included in the "success factors matrix"and the Games Legacy document. (paragraph 32)
12. The Committee recommends that the Legacy document prepared by M2002 after the Games should identify the central core of employees within M2002 and the UK's other sporting bodies, whose expertise should be available to other organisers of international sporting events in the UK to ensure our success as a host country in future. We also repeat the recommendation of the previous Committee that the Government should consider retaining a core team of experts to provide advice in regard to future bids and future events. (paragraph 33)
13. The Committee is encouraged by the positive report of the study undertaken by Cambridge Policy Consultants, and, whilst repeating the concerns of the previous Committee that SportCity must be maintained and properly funded, believes that MCC have put in the necessary groundwork to link the Games with the wider regeneration of the area. We look forward to the reports of future studies on the impact of the Games including the projections that SportCity would create around 3,000 permanent jobs. (paragraph 36)
14. We recommend that the Legacy document to be prepared by M2002 include full consideration of the organisational structure necessary for a major international sporting event. (paragraph 38)
15. The Government must consider the good example of the working relationships behind the Manchester Commonwealth Games. The Government should also consider the success of the structure installed by the Prime Minister after the recommendations made by the previous Committee which resulted in the appointment of the Rt. Hon. Ian McCartney MP, as Minister with responsibility for the Games, which galvanised the whole process and almost certainly saved the Games. We were disappointed that these arrangements were not continued after last year's General Election, believe that only the pre-election structure installed made the Games possible, and recommend that in future, when the Prime Minister has created such a successful structure, he should stick with it. (paragraph 39)
16. It would have been ideal had the Performance and Innovation Unit within the Cabinet Office completed its work on hosting world class events in time to assist preparations for Manchester 2002 but nonetheless we believe that the policy review would benefit greatly from taking account of the performance of the major partners in organising the Manchester Commonwealth Games. (paragraph 40)

 

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1   Fourth Report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Staging International Sporting Events, Session 1998-99, HC 124, para. 69 Back

2   Ev 4 Back

3   Fourth Report, 1998-99, HC 124 and Third Report, 2000-01, HC 286 (both called Staging International Sporting Events) Back

4   DCMS, Press Notice 198/2001, 2 July 2001 Back

5   Ev 2 Back

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Prepared 23 May 2002