 From left: British Consul General of New York, and the Director General of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in the US Sir Alan Collins, Deputy Executive Dean from the College of Economic and Management Sciences Prof Valiant Clapper, Director of Corporate Communication and Marketing Gerard Grobler, and Brian Gallagher, UK Trade Commissioner in South Africa |
Forging alliances ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup
Sir Alan Collins, British Consul General of New York, and the Director General of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in the UK, says he is very impressed with the evolution of South Africa as a multicultural and multiracial society. This was one of the poignant statements he made as he addressed Unisa staff, students and other guests at the Dr Miriam Makeba Concert Hall on Thursday 27 August 2009.
Sir Collins, who is also tasked globally with coordinating work on London 2012, visited Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to meet with senior authorities in these respective cities. The purpose of the meetings was to ensure best business practices and to arrange for trade to occur between the United Kingdom and these cities with regard to the 2010 Fifa World Cup and the London 2012 Olympics. He briefly explained the business objectives of hosting the Olympics, which he said was relevant as South Africa prepares to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Sir Collins said before and during such a big event it is imperative to drive business outcomes so that a country and its citizens benefit once the event has come to an end.
On London 2012, he said the British government was trying to form strategic alliances with other countries that are hosting major sporting events, including South Africa, in the hope that these alliances will benefit both countries. Alliances have already been secured with Canada, host of the 2010 Winter Games; Singapore, host of the 2010 Youth Games; and Russia, host of the 2014 Winter Games.
Sir Collins spoke about the marketing of major sporting events and said he admired the marketing strategies used by South Africa for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. He said the London 2012 Olympics also involved a massive marketing strategy and one of the strategies includes using the National Lottery to raise money for the Olympics. With three years to go before the Olympics, they have already raised £400 million out of their target of £750 million from the National Lottery marketing strategy. This, Sir Collins believes, demonstrates the level of support from the British citizens for the Olympics.
He concluded by saying that South Africa is making immense progress and that the country is positioning itself greatly to bid for other big sporting events.
Deputy Executive Dean from the College of Economic and Management Sciences, Prof Valiant Clapper, spoke of the long history and different trade links between South Africa and Britain. He said the exchange of cultural and political information between the two countries was of great value to both parties, and that the relationship was a strong one that was certain to continue. |
