Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Director of Business, Investment and Culture

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of the Business, Investment and Culture on proposals for Coventry to host the International Children’s Games. The report sought the necessary approvals to accept the invitation to host the games, and the authority to incur the related expenditure.

Coventry had been offered the opportunity to host the International Children’s Games (ICG) in August 2022. The ICG would involve around 1,800 visitors and athletes coming to Coventry for the week-long competition and would be a further opportunity for Coventry to secure legacy benefits and to promote the City as a venue for major sporting events.

Hosting the ICG would contribute to the aim of the City’s Sports Strategy to attract high profile sporting events to the City and to celebrate sporting achievement. It would help to demonstrate the City’s credentials and be building on the City’s reputation as a location for major sporting events. It would provide a legacy from the European City of Sport title and the Commonwealth Games, and enable Coventry to continue to be an active part of the ICG network.

Coventry had spent in excess of £100 million pounds on sporting facilities in recent years and hosting the ICG provided an opportunity to showcase the city’s state-of-the-art assets including the new 50m Swimming Pool at the Alan Higgs Centre, the Sport and Wellness Hub and refurbished Athletics Track at the University of Warwick, and The Wave as a destination facility.

The report set out the draft budget to host the Games. The underwritten cost to the Council of hosting the event was £993,000.  There was currently no identified Council budget for this event meaning the costs of up to £993,000 would need to be earmarked from Corporate Reserves.  However, the Council would make every effort to secure funds from other sources, including sponsorship. Officers would target potential sponsorship and other income generating activities of £250,000 which if successful, would reduce the total cost to the Council to £743,000.

The Cabinet noted officers aspirations to secure funds beyond £250,000, further reducing the total cost to the Council. They requested that, at the appropriate time, Officers engage Coventry University in an evaluation process that would inform the Authority for future events.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Accepts the invitation to host the International Children’s Games (ICG) in Coventry in August 2022.

2)  Approves expenditure to a maximum of £1 million pounds to support the cost of hosting the ICG in 2022, to be funded from corporate reserves.

3)  Authorises officers to commence any necessary organising arrangements.

4)  Delegates authority to the Director of Business, Investment and Culture, following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, to procure the necessary services for the successful delivery of the ICG, including an events management company to oversee the organisation and management of the games, and to enter into the associated contracts with the successful tenderers.

5)  Authorises Officers to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for funding and sponsorship of the ICG with external organisations.

6)  Delegates authority to the Director of Business, Investment and Culture, following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities, to negotiate the terms of any sponsorship and advertising contract and to enter into the necessary related legal agreements with third parties to secure the maximum contribution to support the games from sources outside the Council.