Plaid Cymru’s Minister for Heritage, Alun Ffred Jones, has hailed the many benefits that major events can bring, as Wales gears up to host a wide variety of events this summer.
Yesterday (Tuesday, 25 May) the AM for Arfon also announced a new Welsh language service to support event organisers in Wales.
Thanks to a partnership agreement with the Welsh Language Board, the Plaid AM has ensured that a free Welsh language service will now be available to anyone hosting a major event in Wales.
“This is not a translation service but an advice and consultancy service which aims to help event organisers find innovative ways to use the Welsh language which can add value to their events,” Mr Jones explained.
Providing the service was one of the actions outlined in the Welsh Assembly Government’s Major Events Strategy, published for consultation in April. This demonstrates the fact that Plaid Cymru values the Welsh language, and demands that it be supported sufficiently.
Mr Jones said the strategy will also look at ways to ensure every part of Wales benefits from events, and this year there are great events all over the country.
“Last weekend 40,000 music fans enjoyed seeing some of the world’s top pop musicians at the Faenol Estate, near Bangor for the BBC’s Big Weekend. This provided not only benefits to the local economy but invaluable exposure for north Wales and what it has to offer visitors,” he said.
“The Faenol festival returns this year and north Wales will also host Wakestock and the European Rugby Golden Oldies tournament this summer.”
“Elsewhere sports fans will get to enjoy The Ryder Cup in Newport, the climax of the world rally championship in Wales, a leg of the Tour of Britain cycling and the Cardiff half marathon. On Thursday the Hay Festival, with guest such as Ian McEwan, Beth Orton and Bill Bryson, starts off what should be an exciting summer of activity.”
Other events over the summer include:
- May 30th – 4th June Urdd Eisteddfod, Llanerchaeron
- June 24 England V Australia, One Day International Cardiff
- July 1 – 4 Glanusk International Horse Trials
- July 2 – 4 Beyond the Borders Storytelling Festival, St Donats
- July 5 – 11 Llangollen International Eisteddfod
- July 10 British Speedway Grand Prix, Cardiff
- July 19 – 22 Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells
- July 30 GB v Rest of the World Amateur Boxing, Cardiff
- July 31 – 7 Aug National Eisteddfod, Ebbw Vale
- August 8 Will Young Concert, Eisteddfod Pavilion, Ebbw Vale
- August 20 – 22 Green Man Festival, Brecon
- Sept 5 & 7 England V Pakistan, International Twenty20, Cardiff
Mr Jones added: “The potential economic benefits of hosting major events are well-known, for example an independent report found that The Ryder Cup 2010 might be worth as much as £73m to the Welsh economy and the worldwide exposure gained is invaluable, and the 2006 Heineken Cup generated £25million. We need to make the most of the skills and infrastructure developed to support these types of events.
Now is the time to build on our recent success and ensure we have a sound platform for Wales to continue competing to host these events and grow our own in an increasingly competitive global market.
Our strategy will provide a co-ordinated approach to ensuring Wales can compete for future events, develop our own events and ensure the maximum benefits are gained from hosting them.”
This year, examples of making best use of available infrastructure and resources include a Will Young concert in the National Eisteddfod Pavilion following the Eisteddfod and a marketing / sales partnership for the Faenol Festival with the Wales Millennium Centre.
