Sporting chance of a golden future

The World Corporate Games could put Grampian on the right track, says Mike Wilson

PURISTS who bemoan the increasing presence of commerce in sport won't know whether to laugh or cry. It is a question that cuts both ways whether the World Corporate Games, taking place in Grampian in July, is the ultimate collusion of commerce and sport, or sport taking its revenge on commerce by forcing it to perspire a bit.

Certainly, the agencies involved in keeping Grampian near the top of Scotland's economic league table are convinced of the merits of bringing the games to the north-east of Scotland, some 13 years after they were founded in California where the notion of sport helping motivate employees is long established.

In the short term alone, Grampian's hotels, shops, visitor attractions and restaurants are expected to benefit to the tune of #6 million, the likely expenditure of up to 10,000 participants who will be taking part in the Games.

But it is as much the medium-to- long term that the agencies, including Scottish Enterprise Grampian and the two local councils, have their sights set on. Though the participants will be in Grampian for, effectively, a long weekend (the Games take place between July 13 and 16) it is hoped the good memories that each are expected to take away with them will prove a fertile seedbed for ensuring Grampian remains one of Scotland's economic powerhouses.

The Games are big. Very big. The Sydney Olympics may be the highlight of this year's sporting calendar, but the World Corporates will involve almost as many participants. There is more to these games than simply split times and gold medals. For the participating companies, of which there will be over 400, the keen competition and fun will help foster team spirit. For Scottish Enterprise Grampian and the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils, the Games are about ensuring the area is not caught cold when the standbys of oil and gas can no longer be relied upon to the extent they have been.

Ed Gillespie, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise Grampian, explained the reasoning behind his organisation's half-a-million pound investment in the games, which boasts football's Sir Alex Ferguson as a patron: "It is part of our strategy of bringing big events to the north-east to demonstrate the virtues of living in and visiting the Grampian area. These are major events that put Grampian, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on the map. We are looking for impactful events that convey the image that this is an economically vibrant area offering a superb quality of life.

"I suppose it is the quality of life aspect we wish to most promote. There are going to be 10,000 people taking part, drawn from 40 countries. Being able to tell them that is the place to set up in business or to visit as a tourist is a tremendously powerful opportunity."

Gillespie has been chief executive of SE Grampian for the last 18 months, after having spent 33 years in the paper manufacturing industry. "This idea has two-and-a-half years of hard work behind it, it's been cooking for a long time. So the decision to host it predates my arrival as chief executive. But I personally think it is a great idea and cannot wait to welcome the competitors."

THE four-day Games will prove three times larger than the 1998 Commonwealth Games - held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As well as Scots- based companies, there will be teams from countries including Bulgaria, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Russia and the USA. Twenty- four sports form the programme of events, with the conventional disciplines joined by the likes of Dragon Boat racing at nearby Peterhead and mountain bike racing in Royal Deeside. The Dragon Boat racing is to involve 1400 participants, while "Soccer Sixes" will involve 1500 people.

With a host of world famous golf courses on Aberdeen's doorstep, it is not surprising that the Golf competition has attracted over 600 names.

To win the right to host the Games, Aberdeen had to beat off bids from Jakarta, Buenos Aires, St Petersburg and Beijing. A track record - Aberdeen has already hosted an UK version of the Games - and a determination to succeed will have played its part in the winning pitch.

Gillespie sees Grampian's economic future as less of a sprint and more of a marathon. "I believe the next 10 years will be the most important in the region's last 50. Aberdeen has the lowest unemployment rate of any Scottish city and Aberdeenshire has the second lowest unemployment rate of any Scottish region, though in both cases there are pockets of worryingly high unemployment. But we have to be mindful of the future and the fact that the oil and gas industries - upon which a lot of Grampian's wealth is derived - have reached maturity."

Five years as a founding, non-executive director of Grampian Enterprise (the agency now known as Scottish Enterprise Grampian) followed by four years working in North America has given Gillespie an intimate knowledge of what he has taken on.

"What has been great to see these last 18 months is the consolidating of a real team spirit. We are all singing off the same hymn sheet. We all want the same for the area. We are all asking the same basic questions. There are two local councils - Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - and a Chamber of Commerce, working together with SE Grampian as the North East Scotland Economic Development Partnership. That means, between us, there are four chief executives. But instead of that being too many, it is proving just right. We meet on a monthly basis and we move things forward, it is very exciting."

Visit the World Corporate Games' web-site at www.corporate- games.com or call the Games' offices at 01733 380888 (Peterborough) or 01224 620992 (Aberdeen)

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