2015 SU Update: UK Enterprises hope to participate in Business with 2015 Gwangju Universiade

GWANGJU – UK companies visited Gwangju on the 28^th of February 2012, showing a great interest in the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade.

The 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) met with nineteen visiting members of the UK Global Sports Mission that afternoon, who positively expressed their willingness to be involved in the various business areas related to Universiade preparations.

The 6-day visit to Korea was arranged directly by the UK Trade & Investment and British Embassy Seoul, in order to seek business opportunities in Korea, which will soon host several major global sports events, such as the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade and 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The visiting participants, representing twelve UK companies dealing in areas such as construction, facilities, event planning, security, illumination, transportation and catering services, gave presentations showcasing their businesses experience through the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and 2011 PGA Championships, and outlined their expectations for 2012 London Olympics. All are looking forward to having the chance of being a partner to the Gwangju 2015 Universiade.

Richard Breslin, a chief designer of the global design group ‘POPULOUS’, explained how the group has been designing stadiums, facilities and has been involved in other master plans at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and 2013 Kazan Universiade. “We would like to participate as a partner of the GUOC to support the Universiade with our experience, skills and know-how”, he said.

Tony Laurenson, the CEO of the Global Infusion Group that provided VIPs and athletes’ village with catering services at the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade and 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and will also cater for the 2012 London Olympics, was also keen to be a part of the Gwangju Universiade, adding that they can offer professional and high-quality service based on their specialized experiences gained through major sports events.

Douglas Barrett, the UK Global Sports Mission representative and first secretary of the British Embassy, has visited the GUOC three times now, and said that the UK companies possess a wide perspective of professionalism which is necessary to host global sports events and this will be helpful to host the Universiade in Gwangju. After the visit to Gwangju, he is planning to visit PyeongChang Olympic Committee and Incheon Asian Games Committee to sound out opportunities for UK companies joining these global sports events.

The British Trade Mission looked around the Gwangju World Cup Stadium, which will be used as a main stadium for the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade, before heading toSeoul.

(Source: GUOC)