UK zoos and the 2012 Olympics: threat or opportunity? Should we be doing something?
Well the first question is about Lottery money, not that our community has been conspicously very successful in this area to date. There is much debate as to these funds, as well as Goverment monies and attention, being drained away to the Olympic theme and the relevant parts of London.
I remember there being a similar ‘dismayed chattering’ up to and during the Millennium Dome project. Whilst there is no doubt the business plan for the Dome left a lot to be desired, I do not recall its having a hugely depressing effect on the overall funding landscape. for UK interests.
I suggest the big question is how can the UK zoo community somehow turn the whole agenda around to its advantage? How can we become ‘part of the party?’ Recently someone very clever and very well connected in senior funding circles pointed out to Miranda Stevenson of BIAZA and myself a while back that the next big capital investment programme would be the Olympics legacy theme.
Could the UK zoo and nature site community do something to begin to ‘brand’ itself in Olympic terms, and so start to establish an acceptance of our future capital ambitions as embodying Olympic values..? I naturally think of the example of the Manchester Commonwealth Games held in the region of Chester Zoo. When I was there, we temporarily ‘re-branded’ the zoo as ‘The Commonwealth Zoo’ ( …most of the animals in the collection reflected one Commonwealth country or another). Yes, we got a bit of publicity out of it, but the main reason was to show the zoo as a responsible, contributing ‘organisational citizen’ within the North West of England. Especially, since the major capital investors into Chester’s site would certainly be regional interests.
Should UK zoos, aquariums and our allies be starting off now a debate on how we can dress oursleves in Olympic clothes, make contact with relevant decision makers, perhaps establish a BIAZA/ Consortium task force (’think tank’) to ensure we maximise our role and win post Olympic benefits..?
What do you reckon?
John Johnreganassociates. com
One Response to “UK zoos and the 2012 Olympics: threat or opportunity? Should we be doing something?”
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I am of the opinion that now is the right time to start having this debate – 2012 will be upon us before we know it! At Twycross Zoo, we have already engaged with our Regional Development Agency to see what part the Zoo might play in terms of the East Midlands’ involvement in the 2012 Olympic Games. Discussing this further within the Zoo community at this time makes perfect sense.