Olympics £1m short of target
Organisers of this summer's Leicester Special Olympics are £1 million off their fund-raising target.
The recession has made it impossible to secure a major sponsor, but organisers insist the event will go ahead as planned.
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Civic leaders and athletes at the Special Olympics launch in Town Hall Square, Leicester, last year
The Special Olympics, which will start with an opening ceremony at the Walkers Stadium on July 25, will cost about £2.5 million to run.
Ted Cassidy, chairman of the games, told the Leicester Mercury he was confident the shortfall could be made up with a mix of taxpayers' money and cash from the business community.
It was hoped that a major sponsor would cover the costs of the whole event, but this is now unlikely, he said.
Leicester City Council has already committed £250,000 and free use of its facilities to the event.
However, neither authority nor the organisers could say whether more city taxpayers' money would be needed.
Mr Cassidy said: "In common with many other charities and sports organisations, the fund-raising target for the Special Olympics has been affected by the recession.
"However, working with a range of partners and with the support of Leicester City Council, I can assure you that the games will take place in July as originally envisaged, and we will have a games that the city can be proud of."
He said the games board was "continuing to pursue all funding opportunities".
When asked what the consequences would be if it did not get the £1 million needed in the next four months, Mr Cassidy insisted that would not happen.
The Special Olympics is the biggest sporting event ever to be held in the city, and Leicester will become the only city in the country to have hosted the games twice.
Its £2.5 million running costs includes salaries, transport, staff training, accommodation and food for participants.
More than 4,000 people will head to the city to take part in the games.
As well as the Walkers Stadium, a number of other venues around the city and county are expected to be used.
They include Saffron Lane Stadium, Braunstone leisure centre, Leicestershire County Cricket ground in Grace Road, the city's Abbey Park, Rutland Water and a number of community colleges.
Ex-football manager and chairman of Special Olympics Great Britain Lawrie McMenemy was in the city yesterday evening, to speak at De Montfort University.
He also met people from the business and banking community during the day to help drum up more financial support for the games.
Speaking to the Leicester Mercury, he said: "I was asked to speak to 30 people from the business, legal and banking sectors, to talk about the Special Olympics.
"I told them that it would be terrific if they could help with sponsorship or in any way they could.
"Sponsorship is a problem at every level of sport at the moment, but the organisers are doing a great job.
"There's still a way to go until it starts and I'm confident they will do it.
"This event will be very good for the people of Leicester."
All of the competing athletes will be based at the University of Leicester's new halls of residence, in Oadby.
Leicester City Council leader Councillor Ross Willmott said: "The Special Olympics is a major event for Leicester, and the city council, along with the other main partners, is dedicated to making sure it is a huge success.
"There will be 21 different sports, 16 venues and spectacular opening and closing events which will really do the city proud.
"As we understand it, Special Olympics organisers have already received a number of commitments from a range of sponsors. Their sponsorship activities are continuing."
The games are held every four years, and were last held in Glasgow in 2005.
9 Comments
by Yomesh Solanki, Leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 1:40PM
“about the Leicester Special Olympics
Have nice day
Bye
Yomesh”
by angela sansome, leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 12:39PM
“Angela sansome (cllr hunts partner) & (volunteer publicity and event manager for Sol) is hosting an evening of music and entertainment at Leicester cathedral in aid of l/m appeal raising funds for the special Olympics Leicester.
Dave Andrews from bbc radio Leicester is to compare, we have Leicestershire arts Senior String Ensemble and Senior Brass Ensemble to play in the concert, as well as the cannon precentor to sing.
Event: Leicester cathedral
Date: Wednesday may 6th
Time: 7:30
Tickets can be obtained from the tourist information office at £10 each.
The lord mayor will be attending.”
by leicester resident, leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 12:03PM
“So far I have been censored 4 times this morning on public comments, I hop this stays as it is free speech.
No surprise, the current administration employed an outside agency to run the marketing for the games, so far failure to achieve.
They have not been able to gain a sponsor despite many attempts by companies, to sponsor the games at my last count they had over 30 companies interested, however they want a multi million pound deal, which is not forth coming.
The agency responsible for this stopped fundraising for the games at xmas saying that they could not commit the time, hence it is costing each athlete over £700 to take part.
Please note: the current administration have yet appointed another outside agency.
The Volunteers manager left in jan/feb and crb check are only now being completed,
Steve humpheries has been working endlessly to put the games together and not a bad word can be said, however the lord mayors appeal committee does not have the leadership to even sit around a table together and get thing moving: well with mick cooke and ted Cassidy, what can you say. All the leadership of a wet fish!
Where will the money come from, I am assuming the sports budget for Leicester???”
by Edward, Leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:52AM
“£1m divided by population of Leicester (285,100) = £3.51p each, or 6p a week. Seems like a very small price to pay. Where can I send a cheque? Heck, I'm paying £300 a month less for my mortgage than I was 12 months ago, I'll pay for Mrs Smith and Mike Clutten's too.”
by Mrs Smith, Leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:43AM
“So all the free dinners and free champaign Mr Cassidy and all his Labour mates have consumed has achieved exactly what we expected - a disaster for the City and an expensive disappointment for vulnerable athletes - disgraceful!”
by mike clutten, LE3
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:40AM
“Once again the poor old council tax payer will pick up the tab. Pity Willmott can't be made to pay for his grandiose schemes. I've voted Labour since 1970, but never again!”
by and, leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:31AM
“it is not only the council that needs the money to put this event on but the athelets have to pay to go and that is not cheap my daughter is going and it is £650.00 plus”
by Harish Mistry, Leicester
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:10AM
“Surely the National Lottery good causes team should provide some of the short fall.if not all of it. It is a deserving cause, instead of funding operas etc.!!!!”
by Ian Woolnough, Desford
Thursday, March 26 2009, 9:44AM
“It is sad that Sport UK does not seem to be a sponsor of this wonderful event. Sport UK distributes Lottery funding and therefore should support this event instead of purely the Olympics and Paralympics.”