What's the point of major sports events?
Ten years on from London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we talk about legacy, promises, over claims and returns on investment.
As the UEFA Women's Euros ends and the Commonwealth Games continuing in Birmingham, it's a subject that's ever more relevant to the business of sport, which makes ever more ambitious claims as to the short and long term returns of big events including economic benefit, participation booms and other categories of societal impact.
We talk to Tim Hollingsworth and Alex Balfour.
Tim is chief executive of Sport England, who held the same role at the British Paralympic Association at London 2012. Alex was the London Organising Committee's head of new media, a role he's carrying out currently on secondment in Birmingham. He co-founded cricket website Cricinfo, now part of ESPN, and runs the Generate Digital consultancy.
One thing to mention before we start the conversation is the inaugural Unofficial Partner Live event taking place on Wednesday 21st September at The Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club.
Tickets have just gone on sale and you can buy them via THIS LINK.
You’ll find more detail about the content and format for the evening and keep up to date with guest announcements via the Unofficial Partner Newsletter that goes direct to the inbox of thousands of people across sport, every Thursday. Sign up via UnofficialPartner.com