CAPITAL OF SPORT A Feasibility Study
Building on Spirit of 2012’s Inquiry into the Power of Events, Counsel Ltd. and Loughborough University have been testing ideas and concepts for a UK ‘Capital of Sport’ event underpinned by health and wellbeing outcomes.
CAPITAL OF SPORT
A Feasibility Study
Overview of the approach:
OVER 150 VOICES
Gathered evidence and insight from a range of voices in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
BROAD RANGE OF EXAMPLES
Explored a range of previously hosted local through to international events and festivals.
TEST AND REFINE PROCESS
Used a balance of evidence-based and visionary thinking across three stages to develop event models and concepts.
Snapshot of findings and commentary
“Realising and creating a ‘Capital of Sport’ needs to be a bold pursuit for better evidence and thinking around shared cross-sector impacts of events in the UK. In this study, it is clear how a focus on health and wellbeing could coalesce event commissioners, designers, planners and host communities around a shared outcome.”
Headline Conclusions
Three models for the creation of a ‘Capital of Sport’ to be realised:
1. Competitive bid (one winner).
2. Competitive bid (multiple winner from across the Home Nations).
62% of public poll respondents selected the “greenest” event as the most appealing idea.
“the event should motivate a place to celebrate and use blue, green and grey spaces.”
To be a genuinely UK and geographically inclusive event.
To meaningfully embed and adapt to economic, environmental and social priorities for a host community.
64% of public poll respondents selected “increase levels of health and wellbeing” as the most important outcome of an event.
To find a strong, clear, positive and visionary purpose for the event.
A ‘CAPITAL OF SPORT’ CONCEPT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY...
To strengthen the use of health and wellbeing as an outcome of hosting an event.
“A successful ‘Capital of Sport’ will be a counterbalancing of interests, often achieved through shared responsibility around a focus outcome or beneficiary group.”
To offer some different and productive to the UK event eco-system.
To bridge stakeholders, beneficiaries and places from across different sectors.
Evaluations of previous events and festivals reported active travel as an important tool to increase health-based event outcomes.
“the proposed ‘Capital of Sport’ should be like a living laboratory and drive future policymaking around what is achievable in and through sports, arts and cultural events.”
3. Competitive applications (multiple awardees through a clear criteria).
Three concepts for the creation of a ‘Capital of Sport’ to be considered:
Enhancement of an existing event - partner with the next City of Culture to embed health and wellbeing outcomes and strengthen the contribution of sport within existing event infrastructure.
Wrap around a planned event – partner with another major event – e.g. the 2028 Men’s European Football Championships – to better embed health and wellbeing outcomes for the host places.
Standalone event – design and deliver a standalone ‘Capital of Sport’ through a multiple winner model with a clear focus on promoting the use of events to bolster health and wellbeing outcomes in places of all shapes and sizes.
