Examination of Witnesses (Question Numbers
20-39)
MR MARK
DOLLEY AND
MS TESSA
SANDERSON CBE
3 MARCH 2010
Q20 Janet Anderson: But these community
sports festivals you are organising are in London?
Mr Dolley: No. It would be a national
chain.
Q21 Janet Anderson: So following
on from Adrian Sanders' point, in my constituency in Lancashire
if the local authority wanted to set one up, could they come to
you for advice?
Mr Dolley: Absolutely. We have
set up a model that is revenue neutral for local authorities,
because we understand that is something that local authorities
like providing certain issues, such as the provision of the park
and some help with waste management, and road closures. So that
is absolutely something we can talk to, and the fact is Local
Government Association has been most supportive with regard to
the opportunity to roll-out communication about the events to
local authorities.
Q22 Chairman: Pressing you on the
funding, you say you are confident this can be funded, but at
the moment this is an expression of hope rather than fact, is
it?
Mr Dolley: To go to top Olympic
partners, for example, during the last couple of weeks when they
have all been in Vancouver would have been rather tricky. That
said, I was in Vancouver and had some extremely positive discussions
that I expect to be turned into more formal declarations of interest
during the next couple of weeks.
Q23 Chairman: So the Government has
not formally announced that this is going to happen?
Mr Dolley: By no means. They have
set up some hurdles that need to be crossed first because the
Government, having a very responsible attitude towards public
funds, want to make sure that the whole commercial piece is very
much in place before committing. Understandably.
Q24 Chairman: So when do you hope
this will be finalised and you can launch it?
Mr Dolley: I would hope there
will be a great deal more clarity around this before you next
meet for an evidence session two weeks from now.
Q25 Chairman: With some kind of endorsement
from the Government?
Mr Dolley: If I can meet the Government's
very strict criteria with regard to ensuring commercial viability,
and also with regard to making sure the impact is as great as
it can be, because everybody involved in this project wants to
make sure everything is having the maximum possible impact, and
it is important to be able to demonstrate that.
Q26 Chairman: We would commend the
Government on their wish to make sure it is viable. Have you signed
up any commercial support yet?
Mr Dolley: I have declarations
of interest but no one has signed a contract yet. It is a question
of bringing everybody to the table at the same time, as I am sure
you can imagine.
Q27 Chairman: As far as you are aware,
this is the only game in town which will deliver mass participation
on this scale?
Mr Dolley: On this huge scale
with the explicit link to the Olympic Games, yes. I have been
very grateful for the explicit support of the International Olympic
Committee, who have made their support clear, I understand, to
public bodies in the UK and who have been extremely helpful with
regard to providing introductions to commercial partners.
Chairman: We shall watch with interest.
Thank you very much.
Q28 Chairman: Good morning. I would like
to welcome Baroness Ford and Andrew Altman. Would you like to
make an opening statement?
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