Missing out on the 2029 World Athletics Championships was disappointing, but it also prompted a reminder of what Olympic legacy is really about. From students running on the same track as world-class athletes to a stadium preparing for a Premier League match, London’s Olympic impact is happening every day — and that may be its greatest achievement.
From Metallica at London Stadium to Lando Norris fans at Silverstone, two very different events demonstrated the same truth: the humble t-shirt remains one of the most effective ways to build community, create spectacle and strengthen commercial success.
Awards are everywhere in business, yet very few truly matter. Too often they amount to little more than an evening of applause for the executive team and a LinkedIn post the next morning. But every now and then an award comes along that actually means something, when the story behind the submission reflects the real heart of an organisation.
I was very fortunate this Christmas and New Year to take a family holiday to Australia, which meant we could catch the Ashes Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. This proved to be something of a “Busman’s Holiday” for me, as I was checking out the stadiums, staging and promotion of the most important series in world cricket.
If we really wanted to complicate our lives and launch a new calendar, then September would be the front runner as the month that kicks off the new year. So, I’m delighted to use this fine month – and the ‘New Year’ – to officially announce the launch of Stearns Impact.
An old friend of mine—now running one of the UK’s top five sporting events—has a military background and a deep love for a good forces cliché.
His favourite? The classic 7 Ps:
Piss Poor Planning Promotes Piss Poor Performance