Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council,
Rushcliffe Borough Council, emda and Nottinghamshire County Cricket
Club have been handed a prestigious award for a partnership project
which culminated in the successful staging of the ICC World
Twenty20 earlier this month.
Representatives of all of the organisations received the
Outstanding Public Private Partnership award at the Municipal
Journal ceremony in London last night.
The win follows a similar honour handed to the partners by the
Local Government Chronicle earlier this year.
"Winning this award is a fitting tribute to the contribution
that everyone made to ensure that this truly global event came to
Trent Bridge," said Notts County Cricket Club Chief Executive Derek
Brewer.
"This is a clear demonstration of the potential of fruitful,
mature partnerships between our club, the three councils and emda
and one which is all the stronger for having bid for, planned and
hosted such a prestigious sporting event.
"Everyone worked tirelessly to ensure that the competing teams,
their support staff, the international media and cricket supporters
in general had the best possible experience during their time in
our city, county and region. As a result, we have strengthened our
position on the Global Sporting Map.
"This partnership was creative, bold and hugely successful and I
am delighted that everyone has been rewarded in such a positive
manner."
"Without the redevelopment, the club would not have been in a
position to bid to host ICC World Twenty20. I hope our partners
share real pride in what has been achieved collectively."
The £8.2 million redevelopment of Trent Bridge, the
world's third oldest Test venue, paved the way for Nottingham to
play host to 15 tournament fixtures and reap the benefits of
increased tourism, enhanced profile and economic improvement.
The new stand, state of the art replay screen and permanent
floodlights, funded by £1.23 million loans from each of the
three councils, a £2.5 million grant from emda and £2
million from club funds, received huge exposure with an estimated
television audience of 500million tuning in for the mens semi-final
between Pakistan and South Africa.
BBC News reader Huw Edwards hosted the ceremony at the Hilton
Park Lane.