Rowing world champs boss defends event
SIMON PLUMB
KATRINA LINTONBON/Cambridge Edition
CONTEXT: 2010 World Rowing Championships CEO Tom Mayo.
But, he says, context is essential as the public dissects government sports body Sparc's independent review into the event and its financial losses of more than $2.2 million.
The report, which was made public yesterday, cited several contributing factors to the blowout, but zeroed in on shortcomings in governance, shortfalls in ticket sales and inadequate financial management.
"I'm the one at the top of the tree and have to say how many people will walk in to the event using the signs that you've got around you," Mayo said.
"It's got some key recommendations about governance and that relates to board members. I think a lot of us thought many things from our perspective were very different. But they're obviously not.
"We've got to improve communication, that's what the report has highlighted. We need to be talking more and closer."
But though Mayo was prepared to hold his hand up, he said all facts had to be considered and that others should reflect on what had happened so New Zealand's major events industry could learn and move forward.
"I think when you put it in context we're talking about an event that had [a budget of] $1.5m on day one, and we had to raise close to $14.5m in total," he said.
"We had to raise that funding privately, whether through sponsors, ticket funding, any party possible. That has to be put into context. At the time, 2008 was a very tough economic climate and events carry inherent risk. It was a big target to reach [up to 80,000 in crowd numbers] and I think that's been lost in the report.
"There's disappointment across the board, from everyone involved. As soon as we realised it lost money we were all disappointed and we will put our hands up and say we tried to do everything we possibly could to make this event.
"I'd love to go back in time but you've got to make the best decisions you can with the best people around you at the time. It's given a great deal back to the community, we're talking 63,500 bed nights and $15m worth of economic impact. It's done great things for New Zealand so I guess it has to be put in context like that too."
Mayo said the event and subsequent report were important for New Zealand's major events landscape and should help "the learning process".
"I'm part of the events industry and we're all in this together. I've got to read the report through closely and take the criticism. But, at the end of the day, we've got to keep on delivering world-class events.
"We've got to go through this process because it's a learning process. It's tough and we've all got to take things on the chin but, ultimately, I think the events industry will be much better for it."
- Stuff
πηγή http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/5350105/Rowing-world-champs-boss-defends-event
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