Games Chief Unveils Schedule of Milestones For London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games

 
The milestones schedule of events includes sale of tickets to attend Olympic and Paralympic sports at the London 2012 Games, a major source of revenue for London Olympic organisers, along with the London 2012 Sponsorship and Marketing Programme, which will begin later this year under the schedule.

The milestones schedule also includes the launch of the London 2012 Volunteers Programme, which will provide opportunities for up to 70,000 people to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games, the biggest peace-time event ever staged in the United Kingdom.

Mills announced the milestones while speaking at the DCMS Olympic Business Conference. Key milestones in the London 2012 schedule include:

• 2006 Marketing/Sponsorship Plan and launch of London 2012 logo and brand
• 2007 Venue overlay specifications
• 2008 Beijing Closing Ceremony handover to London 2012
• 2010 Volunteer Recruitment programme launched
• 2011 Olympic Games Tickets go on sale
• 2010/2012 Test Events
• 2012 27 July London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
• 2012 29 August London 2012 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony

Mills said that a key focus for the London Organising Committee in the 2006-07 financial year would be starting to raise the sponsorship funds necessary for LOCOG's operating budget which will finance major Games programmes including the high profile Olympic Torch Relay, the Volunteers programme as well as creating a London Games logo and brand.

"The LOCOG sponsorship and marketing programme will be crucial to delivering the Games in London. The bulk of LOCOG's finance needs to be raised from the private sector which in 2012 prices will be around £2 billion," Mills told delegates at the Olympic Business Conference.

"Of this £2bn, around 35% will be raised from commercial sponsorship here in the UK. The remainder will come from LOCOG's share of the IOC broadcasting and sponsorship revenues, and from merchandising, ticket sales, coin programmes and other commercial activities," added Mills.

Full details of the London 2012 Sponsorship plan will be unveiled later in the year.

Mills said that that LOCOG would be seeking to engage sponsors in 4 sectors during 2006 - automotive, banking, telecoms and utilities with initial discussion taking place from March this year.

"The aim is to sign at least one major sponsor by the end of this year but we will be taking a targeted approach to our sponsorship programme and will focus initially on just these four sectors," added Mills.

Tier 2 and Tier 3 sponsor sectors will be identified in 2007 and all London 2012 sponsors will be able to activate their sponsorship domestically as soon as their contract has been agreed with LOCOG.

Mr Mills highlighted the important role of sponsor companies for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"The successful delivery of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games relies on getting sponsors on board. They have a pivotal role to play not only in funding the actual Games but in helping LOCOG achieve a predicted operating surplus of up to £100m, 80% of which will be ploughed back into sport in the UK," commented Keith Mills.

"So sponsors of a London Games will not only help us put on the most spectacular Games ever, but they will also help us deliver a real sports legacy in the UK that will be enjoyed for many years after 2012," he said.

Mills also confirmed that the London 2012 logo and brand identity will be launched by end 2006/early 2007.

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For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0) 203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com

Operational Notes

The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill is currently progressing through Parliament and will set in place important safeguards for LOCOG sponsors. The legislation will give necessary assurance to potential sponsors that their association with London 2012 will be legally protected.

London 2012 is working very closely with the IOC to finalise a marketing and sponsorship programme which will ensure proposed sponsors fit comfortably with IOC Top Sponsors.