By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

July 13 - Chime Communications have added pmplegacy, the global sporting events consultancy, to its portfolio of companies as they seek to move into the lucrative bidding market.


Chime, who already Bell Pottinger and Fast Track, have been trying to break into the sector for some time and worked on Madrid's unsuccessful bid to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, as did pmplegacy.

pmplegacy, founded by Peter Mann, has worked on a wide range of bids and projects during the last 20 years, including the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing, the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

It has also worked many leading International Federations, including FIFA, the International Rugby Board,  World Basketball Federation (FIBA) and national governing bodies, such as the Rugby Football Union, the Football Association, Lawn Tennis Association, British Equestrian Federation and England Netball.

Jim Glover, the chief executive of the Sports Marketing Division of Chime Communications said: "Developing global major event bidding expertise is a clear area of focus for the Sports Marketing Division of Chime Communications.

"As our work is increasingly becoming more international, this acquisition marks an important move for us in our ambition to work even more closely with cities, governing bodies and bid committees on insightful strategies and activation plans to win major global events.

Alan Pascoe, the chairman of the Sports Marketing Division of Chime Communications and vice chairman during London's successful Olympic bid, said: "We are thrilled to welcome pmplegacy into the Sports Marketing Division of Chime Communications and are excited by the team’s skills and insight, which will be a perfect complement to our existing skills and our planned ambition in this area."

Mann said: "We are delighted to have joined the Chime Group and look forward very much to being an integral part of the Sports Marketing Division, working closely with such leading companies and strong brands as Fast Track, Essentially and Stuart Higgins Communications.

"Chime’s commitment to the major events sector will enable pmplegacy to build extensively upon our achievements to date and target key events and geographical markets in a robust and innovative way."

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