Sports leaders from the Swans and Ospreys have given Swansea Bay’s UK City of Culture 2017 bid the thumbs-up
Huw Jenkins, Chairman of the Swans, and Geoff Atherton, Chairman of the Ospreys, have applauded Swansea Council for formally submitting the bid in partnership with Neath Port Talbot Council and Carmarthenshire Council.
Hollywood star Michael Sheen and famous screenwriter Russell T Davies have already backed the bid.
The 2017 bids will now be considered by an independent advisory panel before a shortlist is announced next month.
Huw Jenkins said: “The success of the Swans shows what happens when we let ourselves dream – our never say die Jack attitude coupled with our talent and vision has gotten us to where we are today. Our community defines our culture – we are a part of their day to day lives and they of ours, and our stadium sits right in the middle of the region, bridging east and west and bringing people together. We will put the full weight of the club behind the bid to help our shared culture grow and flourish across Swansea Bay.”
If Swansea Bay’s bid is successful, some of the programme ideas include a Pete Ham Festival for unsigned musicians and a high-tech history laboratory on the historic Hafod Copperworks site. It’s also being proposed the region’s leaders could work with the British Lions rugby management to announce the 2017 squad in Swansea Bay.
Geoff Atherton said: “Ospreys Rugby has a strong focus on engaging with our community, and particularly with children and young people through our sports engagement programmes. We are pleased and proud to be associated with the UK City of Culture bid for Swansea Bay for 2017 and look forward to broadening our community engagement programmes in line with the initiative.”
Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Sport is at the heart of Swansea Bay‘s culture and helps define us as a community. This is why it’s fantastic the bid has been endorsed by two of the region’s leading football and rugby clubs. The Swans and the Ospreys have done a terrific job in raising Swansea Bay‘s profile across the world, but landing UK City of Culture 2017 status would further help put our home region on the international map and attract more investment in future.”
The City of Culture initiative is administered by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Swansea Bay is up against the likes of Leicester, Plymouth and Dundee
