2012 Roadshow coming to Wrexham

13 July 2006

Businesses across Wrexham are being given an opportunity to find out about the potential benefits that will arise from London hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012, this month. Wrexham County Borough Council have been invited by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to host a visit as part of the 2012 Roadshow - promoting the opportunities provided by the Games being held in London in 2012 to the rest of the UK.

Wrexham County Borough Council and the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI) will be staging the roadshow for Wrexham; which is one of six events to be held in Wales. The Wrexham event, which is being held on Tuesday 18th July at NEWI will focus on how local businesses can become a part of the Olympic/Paralympic experience and benefit from the thousands of business, tourism and community opportunities available.

Isobel Garner, Chief Executive of Wrexham County Borough Council said that the authority was committed to ensuring that the County Borough benefited from the 2012 Games.  She said, “We are delighted that the team behind the Olympic and Paralympic Games have chosen Wrexham as a venue in which to explore business and tourism opportunities by bringing this roadshow to NEWI.  I am confident they will enjoy the Wrexham experience and gain greatly from their visit.”

The star attraction at the event will be the official 2012 Roadshow Bus which will carry a very important passenger, British rower Ed Coode, MBE.  Ed Coode will be the key speaker at the event which will be followed by a business lunch providing an opportunity for people to network with key 2012 figures including politicians, sports people and other ambassadors. Alan Pugh AM, Welsh Assembly Minister for Culture, the Welsh Language and Sport will also arrive at the event on the 2012 Roadshow Bus.

Ed Coode, MBE won his first World Championship in 1999 as a substitute in the British men's coxless four, rowing with Steven Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell.  He won his second World Championship in 2001 and then went on to win an Olympic Gold Medal in Athens in 2004.

Professor Michael Scott, Principal and Chief Executive of NEWI, thinks that this is a great opportunity for local businesses.  “I’m thrilled that Wrexham County Borough Council has chosen NEWI as the venue in Wrexham to host this event. It was great news when the UK was announced as the host of the Games in 2012. Much preparation has to be done in the next six years and it is really exciting that businesses in Wrexham have the opportunity to be involved.”

The Roadshow will call in at a wide variety of locations across the country, including major cities, 2012 venues and sporting events. It will inform local people about preparations for 2012, what the Games can mean for them and how they can get involved. The Roadshow will also reinforce the message that the UK will be hosting two great events, the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. In addition there will be a strong focus on tourism benefits, the Cultural Olympiad from 2008 to 2012, volunteering and diversity.