THE MADRID 2016 Olympic bid team has appointed leading international PR agency Bell Pottinger to support their bid to bring the Olympics back to Spain.
Their work will be supported by Chime’s sport and sponsorship division, Fast Track, through their operation in Spain.
Bell Pottinger, part of Chime Communications, is the UK’s No1 PR agency and has a track record of supporting prestigious sporting events and successful bid working.
Lord Bell, who led the pitch for the business, will provide senior counsel alongside Bell Pottinger Chairman, Kevin Murray, and Fast Track Chairman (and Olympic medallist), Alan Pascoe.
Bell Pottinger and Fast Track supported communications for the winning bids for the Beijing 2008 Olympics, South Africa 2010 World Cup, London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2014. Global clients include McDonald’s, Honda, Emirates, BMW and McLaren.
Major sporting events promoted by Bell Pottinger and Fast Track include the Wimbledon Championships, the Paralympic World Cup, Volvo Round the World Yacht Race and PGA Golf.
Bell Pottinger Business & Brand Managing Director, Kevin Read, will act as project co-director together with Ignacio Diaz, Fast Track Spain Managing Director. Former ITN Head of Sport, Malcolm Munro, leading on international media relations supported in Spain by Pedro L. Gonzalez, Communications Director and Antonio Quilez as the Consultancy Director.
Madrid 2016 Bid CEO Mercedes Coghen said: “We are delighted to have secured such a prestigious and internationally renowned agency to support our bid.
“The international competition to host the Olympics and Paralympics in 2016 will begin in earnest in June and Bell Pottinger and Fast Track will play an important strategic role in shaping our story and advising on how our messages will be heard by those who matter. “
Bell Pottinger Chairman, Kevin Murray, said: “Madrid’s bid for the 2016 Olympics is second to none and is it an honour to be able to help one of the great capitals of the world past the winning line.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Kevin Read – telephone: 020 7861 2506; email: kread@bell-pottinger.co.uk
Malcolm Munro - telephone: 020 7861 3217; email: mmunro@goodrelations.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Bell Pottinger is the public relations division of Chime Communications PLC, the UK’s Number 1 public relations group.
Bell Pottinger specialises in strategic communication; reputation management; corporate, consumer, and financial public relations; government and public affairs; brand development; marketing; opinion research and polling. The division employs more than 350 people, servicing over 600 clients, across 15 companies.
Fast Track is one of the leading sports events, communication, consulting and rights marketing agencies.
The agency creates award winning, world class sponsorship programmes and events for our clients across a multitude of sports – athletics, basketball, football, golf, rugby, rowing, swimming, sailing and disability sport.
Fast Track works across a wide portfolio of clients including Heineken, Land Rover, Lucozade Sport, MMC, UK Athletics, the National Lottery, Sainsbury’s, Camelot, Polar, JCB and Group 4 Securicor.
