Manchester crowned world's best 'Sports City' » Communities » 24dash.com

Manchester has been crowned the best ‘Sports City’ in the world for its successful hosting of six international sports events this year, including three world championships.

A panel of industry experts including representatives from FIFA, the International Olympic Committee, the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club and the International Cricket Council selected Manchester the winner ahead of other leading world sport destinations including Melbourne which was awarded silver, and Berlin which received bronze. New York, Moscow and Doha were also shortlisted.

Throughout the year, Manchester World Sport 08 (MWS08) has hosted the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships 2008 (25m), the BUPA Great Manchester Run, the UEFA Cup Final 2008, the Hi-Tec World Squash Championships 2008 and the Paralympic World Cup.

The SportBusiness Sports City 'Gold' Award was presented to Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, at the SportBusiness Sports Event Management Awards 2008.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council said: "I am so proud to collect this award on behalf of the city.

"An enormous amount of hard work by a great many people has gone into hosting such an impressive programme of world-class events and the city has triumphed.

"Manchester is renowned for its incredible sporting legacy and to be recognised internationally for our achievements is a great honour."

Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester, the tourist board for Greater Manchester said: "This year has seen Manchester's credentials as a sports destination reach even new heights.

"Sport, in particular football and cricket, has always been a big selling point for the city, and now, Manchester's squash, cycling and swimming facilities are gaining a global reputation of their own.

"The campaign to promote these sports events has involved a huge amount of hard work right across the city and this award is a great tribute to that effort."

As well as being named best Sports City, the ground breaking 9th FINA World Swimming Championships 2008 (25m) in Manchester also earned Gold for its organisers, World Swimming Championships 2008 Ltd, for best 'Event Look'.

The 9th FINA World Swimming Championships 2008 (25m) held in Manchester in April saw 18 world records broken in five days of competition in the fastest and most successful event of its kind, all held in spectacular pools specially constructed in the Manchester Evening News Arena.

The Manchester World Sport 08 marketing campaign won silver behind the Indian Premier League (IMG-DLF Indian Premier League 2008) and ahead of the Network BBDO ICC World Twenty20 South Africa 2007.

One of the key campaign objectives for MWS08, which was coordinated by Manchester City Council in partnership with Marketing Manchester, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), UK Sport and M.E.N. Media, was to raise Manchester's position in the global hierarchy of 'top world cities' and the campaign has clearly gone some way to achieving that now that the city is recognised internationally for being the world's best 'Sports City' 2008.

Simon Morton, Senior Events Consultant at UK Sport, said: "The recognition for Manchester is well deserved at the end of what has been a fantastic year of sports events in the city. Through our National Lottery funded World Class Events Programme we have invested over £2 million over the course of the year in these events and the SportBusiness Awards demonstrate how Manchester continues to deliver to the highest standards."

Sheldon Phillips, Head of Regional Major Events at the NWDA, said: "The NWDA has been proud to sponsor so many inspirational and successful events during Manchester's year of World Sport 08 which have profiled the city and the region on a global scale.

"These events have also generated millions of pounds for the regional economy. Manchester is passionate about sport and is a deserving winner of this award."

Elaine Darbyshire, Director of Corporate Communications for GMG Regional Media said: "As a committed partner of Manchester World Sport 08, M.E.N. Media has been extremely proud to be able to showcase Manchester's biggest year of international sports events and to also have supported the wide range of associated community sports throughout the City.

"MEN Media is thrilled to have been part of a truly exceptional sporting year for our home city which has now rightly joined the 'super league' of great sporting cities of the world."