The Commonwealth Games Manchester 2002

A Prize Worth Winning?
This event had to be about more than municipal ego. More than an opportunity to bathe in the reflected glory of a world event successfully staged. Manchester was always explicit in its intention. In bidding for the Commonwealth Games its aim was not only to deliver a world-class event but also to create a lasting legacy for Manchester and the region. A unique and innovative approach was taken to the legacy of the Manchester Games. Any city or organisation would expect the successful delivery of such a huge event to deliver benefits to tourism, sporting infrastructure and measurable commercial gains. Manchester went further.

The aim was for the hosting of the Games to provide the catalyst for the whole scale regeneration of a large area of the city.

East Manchester
The area which was once known as ‘the workshop of the world’ had been in steady decline for the last 30 years. Large scale de-industrialisation had a huge and devastating effect on employment. Plans had been in place since the early nineties for the regeneration of this area. However, the hosting of the Games and the decision to site the stadium in this area was the catalyst needed. This provided the cachet of a world event and the focus which would then lever in a range of other strategic initiatives to New East Manchester.

 Is it working? This is a long-term regeneration strategy but three years after the Games many of these lofty ambitions are now starting to be realised.

Will there be A New Town In The City?
Over the next 15 years New East Manchester is expected to secure over £2 billion in public and private funding. The momentum gained from the investment in world class sporting facilities at Sportcity presents a new image to the commercial world. There has been a quantum shift in perceptions of the area from current and prospective residents and investors. The New Business Park development is expected to create over 6000 jobs. The development of a new retail centre, four star hotel and the new housing developments are expected to create 3,800 jobs for the people of East Manchester.

Manchester City Football club, as the new resident in the City of Manchester stadium, is drawing nearly 40,000 people to the streets of East Manchester for each of its home games. In the summer of 2005 concerts by U2 and Oasis enticed over 360,000 music fans two miles east of Manchester's city centre. World class sporting events at Sportcity continue to attract public and media attention.

There is a palpable sense of pride amongst the community recorded by regeneration agencies. Canal side homes and developers are bringing affordable contemporary design to the housing market. Open top tour buses are starting to bring visitors and tourism to an area of the city which had rarely been frequented by those beyond the local community. 

Investors find a revitalised landscape and business opportunities on the doorstep of one of Europe's most popular economic destinations. There is still a huge amount of work to be done; complacency is not on anyone's agenda but without the impetus provided by the Games, investment on this scale could not have been secured.

The North West Commonwealth Games Opportunities and Legacy Partnership

The use of £6.2m of Government Single Regeneration funds matched to a further £12m of other public and private funds, paved the way for the delivery of a unique regional programme aimed at ensuring that businesses and in particular disadvantaged communities benefited from the hosting of the Games in Manchester.

The Commonwealth Games Opportunities and Legacy Partnership board was established as a regional board for managing the Legacy of the Games. Made up of senior managers from key organisations across the North West, business, sport, arts and cultural interests were represented alongside local government agencies to promote the benefits to the wider region.

The Games did not invent volunteering. But the commitment to making this the most inclusive games ever resulted in a heady mix of people from a diverse range of background who gave so much in the Summer of 2002. The role of the volunteer may not have changed but the event managed to attract those who had not considered offering their individual talents in this way before.

The huge success of the volunteer programme has resulted in the setting up of the Post Games Volunteer Project in 2003. Games Volunteers have responded to requests for support from organisations across the region and continue to perform a number of roles at major events.

In 2005 there are over 2000 volunteers on the database taking part in a wide range of events including the Salford Triathlon, the Great Manchester Run and the World Parlympics event. The project was mainstreamed into Manchester City Council in August 2005 with the launch of Manchester Event Volunteers.

What effect has the Games had on the image of the City and the North West
Maybe we need to ask the 18 million people who visited the region in 2002 and put £6 billion into the North West’s economy.
The outstanding welcome received by visitors and athletes alike at the venues, in the visitor centres, on the streets and across the region prompted acres of newsprint and impressed even the most jaundiced of media crew. 

Over 300,000 visitors each year are now expected as a result of the positive image of the Games.The ability of major events to deliver social and economic benefits across the region has led to the drawing up of a Five Year Regional Events Strategy by the North West Development Agency (NWDA) in 2004. The tourism industry in the region has undergone a complete restructure with Destination Managment Organisations under the remit of the NWDA replacing the former North West Tourist Board . 

The city and the region will continue to maximise the opportunities resulting from hosting the third largest sporting event in the world. The London 2012 Olympic team have credited Manchester's success and legacy with underpinning their successful bid in 2005.

Closer to home, away from the politics, you'll perhaps get a better sense of perspective.

Ask the people of the North West as they follow Ian Thorpe and future Olympians to take the waters at the Aquatic Centre.
Catch someone’s attention as world-class cyclists take the harrowing bends at the Velodrome.
Talk to a volunteer helping archivists with the M2002 collection at Central Library or maybe just take a stroll across Manchester City Centre.

Ask yourself.
The XV11 Commonwealth Games Manchester 2002. Was it a prize worth winning?

The Legacy Runs On...