The UK Corporate Games - Europe's largest annual multi sports festival for businesses - will be hosted in Nottingham for the first time ever in 2017. It is expected to attract around 5-6,000 participants to the city from all over the UK. The Games will be taking place across multiple sporting venues in Nottingham - VisitEngland's Home of Sport - from 6 – 9 July 2017 and many of the UK's top companies have already entered a team.
Participants can choose to enter one or more of the 23 sports on offer – from volleyball to soccer, squash to table tennis and golf to cycling. Many of the sports will be taking place at The University of Nottingham's new £40m David Ross Sports Village at the University Park campus, which played a pivotal role in securing the Games bid. It features a state-of-the-art fitness centre, equipped with an extensive gym, a 20 court sports hall, multiple glass squash courts, an indoor sprint track, two dance studios and a climbing wall.
In addition to showcasing the city's sporting facilities, the Games also provide the ideal platform to demonstrate the benefits of Nottingham as a viable business destination to the thousands of participants from hundreds of different organisations who will be taking part.
The Games are open to businesses and organisations, regardless of size and offer an outstanding opportunity to enhance corporate team-building and individual well-being through sport, competition, fun and fitness.
Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire is working closely with organisers - the Corporate Games World Headquarters – along with Nottingham Conferences, Nottingham City Council, The University of Nottingham Sport and luxury hotel company Principal Hayley Group to deliver, what is hoped to be, the biggest and best ever Corporate Games in their 30-year history.
Brendan Moffett, Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, said: “We are thrilled that Nottingham has been selected as the host city for the 2017 UK Corporate Games, for the first time ever. The Games provide the ultimate mix of sport, business and tourism and we will be working hard with the organisers and partners to ensure they will be the most successful ever.
“As England's official Home of Sport, it is fitting that Nottingham has been chosen to host this prestigious event next year. We are building a strong reputation as an event city and a home for major sporting events; the UK Corporate Games event is a great example of the kind of high profile event we can host.
“Not only will the event bring thousands of new visitors to Nottingham, it will provide us with a great opportunity to showcase the fantastic new sports facilities on offer at the University of Nottingham, and the wider city, as well as giving participants in the Games a memorable and positive experience.
“The Games will also enable us to develop strong relationships and contacts with businesses from all sectors, including many of the UK's top companies, and showcase the city as an ideal location for their business expansion.”
Ben Sedgemore, Games Director, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the UK Corporate Games to Nottingham in 2017 and we have been incredibly impressed by the outstanding quality of facilities that we have been able to choose from.
“We are confident that with its powerful business infrastructure and central location, Nottingham will be an extremely popular destination for business visitors from across the UK. We are really looking forward to seeing business people from across the UK playing against local organisations whilst enjoying the 23 sports and the host of celebrations on the programme.
“Independent reports have calculated that the Games will generate a £3-4 million pound economic impact over the Games weekend, which will be a fabulous boost for the city. We are delighted to be working with all of the local partners to assist in the region's continued development.”
