NEWPORT is expected to benefit to the tune of around £1.5million by hosting this summer’s Westfield Health British Transplant Games, according to organisers.

More than 60 transplant teams from across the UK will be pouring into the city from Thursday July 25 to Sunday July 28 for the games - which will see the Argus serve as official media partners.

It is the latest sporting event to be hosted by Newport and will be the first time that any Welsh city outside of Cardiff has hosted the British Transplant Games since it was established in 1978. The games are open to any individual who has undergone transplant surgery.

Every available room in the city offered to the transplant games accommodation agency has been taken and teams are now spreading to neighbouring hotels on the M4 from Bristol to Cardiff.

South Wales Argus:

The launch of the 2019 British Transplant Games in Newport

The anticipated scale of the economic impact to the city of Newport is estimated at £1.5 million in hard cash terms based on accommodation, meals and secondary spend, say organisers.

The figure is based on the entries flying in from transplant teams, who will all be bringing their own families and fans to the city to support them.

“We opened entries on 1st March and within the month, more than 1500 entries have been received which is 10% up on corresponding entries for the 2018 Westfield Health British Transplant Games in Birmingham, when numbers rose to a record 2750 accredited participants,” said games events manager, Andrew Bridge.

“In 2018, the media and PR reach for the games was over 600 million and valued at over £1 million in place marketing, all of it positive and strengthening the need for positive donation conversations amongst the population.

The indications are that the games will generate some 8,000 to 10,000 bed nights on current predictions.

Participants will start arriving on the Wednesday, July 24, and some families are naturally planning on extending their stay in Wales once the Games have finished, a Transplant Games spokesman added.

“The games, very much a festival of sport, is a family affair and for many, they represents their main, or secondary holiday of the year.

“Organisers and the charity keep entry fees to a minimum so that families can concentrate funding their accommodation, meals and to visit the shopping and restaurants in the town, Like Friars Walk, who are supporting the Games.”

South Wales Argus:

The Games budget, valued at £500,000, of which cash is £300,000, is raised annually from national sponsorship, donations and fundraising, and predominantly spent within Newport using local suppliers and services wherever feasible.

There has been great support from the Welsh Government, Newport City Council, Newport Live and the wider Newport business community, demonstrating their ability to host and stage major events.

Rodney Parade and Newport County have already embraced the Games and the Opening Ceremony is set to be a significant community engagement event.

OTHER NEW:

Celtic Manor Resort marketing director Vanessa Russell said the hotel was delighted to be sponsoring the games and hosting event organisers and teams competing at the event.

“We look forward to welcoming hundreds of competitors to the resort and seeing thousands more descend on the City of Newport.

“We know from hosting major events like the 2010 Ryder Cup and the NATO Summit in 2014, as well as the Wales Open on golf’s European Tour for 15 years, just how much impact these events can have on the visitor economy.

“When we open ICC Wales later this year, we expect to bring many more large-scale events to Newport and South Wales. Economic impact studies have shown the new venue will bring £70m per annum to the local economy."

A flurry of successful events in Newport, from the Ryder Cup in 2010, to the recent FA Cup matches, the annual food festival and the Wales Newport Marathon have considerably raised the city’s profile, commented a city council spokesman.

“This has been reflected in the growth of the visitor economy in Newport, which has almost doubled since 2006. Figures from 2017 showed the industry had a total financial impact of £396.56 million per year,” they added.

“In 2017, the number of overnight stays increased by more than four per cent – with around 750,000 people spending one or more nights – something that is most definitely boosted by events such as the British Transplant Games.”

Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, said such institutions and events are recognising Newport’s worth as an excellent host city.

South Wales Argus:

Newport City Council leader Debbie Wilcox

“Newport has fantastic attractions both within the city and within a short distance of our boundaries and these events are certainly encouraging people to discover what we have to offer,” she added.

“Residents are also embracing the events and we are seeing huge support and turnout on the day – the marathon was a great example of this. The Transplant Games will again provide an excellent opportunity for local people to get involved.

“Rising visitor figures are excellent news for the city and make an important contribution to the local economy. This is also reflected in even more investment – the International Convention Centre Wales is due to open later this year and work is progressing well on the new Mercure Hotel in Chartist Tower. And I’m sure we will see more interest and investment to meet the inevitable demand.”

Kevin Ward, manager of the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID), said: "The British Transplant Games is another coup for Newport as the city's reputation for staging major events continues to grow.

South Wales Argus:

Kevin Ward, manager of the Newport Now Business Improvement District

"At least 1,500 competitors will be taking part in the Games and their supporters, family and friends will more than double that number.

"The potential benefits to the local economy of so many visitors coming to the city are huge.

"The economic impact of the Games being held in North Lanarkshire in 2017 was estimated at £2.9 million.

"The challenge for businesses in the city centre and Newport as a whole is to take advantage of the opportunities the event presents."

Newport Now BID is a private company funded by and representing more than 400 city centre businesses.