Sri Lanka appoints World Class Team of Advisers for Commonwealth Games 2018 Bid

The Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth Games Candidate City Organising Committee, under the chairmanship of Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, has recently announced the appointment of an international team of advisers to help Sri Lanka develop its bid to host the 2018 Games.

The team is led by pmplegacy, the global sporting events consultancy and includes Fast Track, Bell Pottinger, Populous and PwC, together with a number of specialist advisers in transport planning, sustainability, security, brand and communications and cost consultancy.

pmplegacy, Fast Track and Bell Pottinger are all part of Chime Communications plc, a leading marketing services group listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Chairman Cabraal said, “The appointment of this advisory team reinforces how important the 2018 bid is to Sri Lanka. We are also in the final stages of appointing our 2018 BidCo senior executive team and bringing together the many local stakeholders to be involved in the bid process.”

“I am delighted that we have been able to appoint the pmplegacy team — they bring a wealth of relevant event bidding and planning experience. We have a unique and compelling story to tell and our bid will act as an important catalyst in the Island’s post conflict and tsunami reconstruction and in raising Sri Lanka’s profile on the world stage,” he added.

Peter Mann, Chairman of pmplegacy said, “This appointment demonstrates Hambantota’s commitment to submit a world class bid to the Commonwealth Games Federation and to showcase the island’s natural beauty, charm and the passion for sports of its 20 million inhabitants.

Sri Lanka is a big island with big aspirations and our job is to help turn these aspirations into reality.  Hambantota’s strategic location will help to ensure that it becomes one of the most vibrant cities in Southern Asia with a sporting, educational and tourism hub at its heart. We look forward to working with the Organising Committee over the next 12 months to help create a successful bid for the 2018 Games”.

Ajith Nivard Cabraal is Chairman of the Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee (OC) and Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The OC consists of a further 29 members representing a wide cross section of Sri Lankan society.

pmplegacy is a global sporting events consultancy and part of the Sports Marketing Division of Chime Communications plc. The company has been active in the major sporting events arena for over 25 years and has experience of Commonwealth, Asian and Olympic & Paralympic Games and Cricket, Football and Rugby World Cups.

Fast Track is a leading international sports marketing, events and consultancy company founded and chaired by Olympian and Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Alan Pascoe. Alan was a Vice-Chairman of the successful London 2012 bid.

The Bell Pottinger Group is made up of 22 of the best multi-disciplinary and service specific communications agencies. We operate all over the world, going where our clients need us, to provide PR, international relations, strategic communications and reputation management.

Populous (formerly HOK Sport) is one of the world’s most successful sports architects and major event overlay specialists. They are currently working on the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and are the Official Architectural and Overlay Design Services Provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients. More than 160,000 people in 154 countries in forms across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

The above team is supported by a wide range of leading international major event advisers.