Embrace the Games

In July 2012 the UK will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nearly 15,000 athletes from all over the world will be competing in 26 Olympic and 20 Paralympic Sports watched by more than nine million spectators and broadcast live to billions all over the world. In Cheshire & Warrington a 2012 Steering Group has been created to secure a lasting and beneficial legacy from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by individuals and communities embracing high quality sport and physical activity, art and culture, tourism and business opportunities which change the lives and society for the better. To ensure this vision is delivered 4 themes have been identified, one of which is the visitor economy, being led by Visit Chester and Cheshire working in partnership with the 3 Unitary authorities to ensure we maximise these opportunities.

The 2012 Olympic Games will take place from 27th July to 12th August 2012. The 2012 Paralympic Games will take place from 29th August to 9th September 2012. But the benefits to the visitor economy will not just be achieved during this period; opportunities are available in the 3 years running up to 27th July, and post 2012.

• A 60 day spot light on Britain through the Torch relay, which will give Cheshire the opportunity to bring the worlds media into key areas of the destination, events, festivals and sporting achievements.
  
  
• A number of the teams involved in the games will be coming to the UK to train over the next 2 years and work has already begun in Cheshire to attract these teams to pre-games training camps, in the northwest there are 73 registered pre-games training camps - read more here.
  
  
• The games are not just about sport, the UK is also staging the Cultural Olympiad, in Cheshire & Warrington we have already staged station stationary - read about that here - through Cheshire dance. In improving the cultural and arts offer and contribution to the Cultural Olympiad, Cheshire will spread the economic benefits of visitor activity across the whole sub-region and strengthen our identity.
  
  
• To improve the visitor offer, through the development of quality, varied and distinctive product, providing a reason for visitors to come to the destination of Cheshire. Also using the guidance from Visit Britains Welcome to Britain campaign - read detail here- drive investment in the people who work in the visitor economy to create a workforce that has the necessary skills to provide a quality product.
   
  
• The Olympics have become a catalyst to a number of high profile sporting competitions attracted to the UK, creating a Decade of Sport, giving Cheshire and Warrington huge opportunities post 2012, through both Rugby League and Union world cups, the Common Wealth Games and Cricket World Cup. Cheshire & Warrington needs to maximise the opportunities of these events through our strong communication links to London and Glasgow and partnership with Virgin Trains. As well as developing a legacy through the pre-games training camps to keep teams returning during the next decade.