On the horizon; a Royal cel- ebration, the Gulf and Beijing For only the fourth time in its 66-year history, Te Royal Ed- inburgh Military Tattoo has just completed a major international run. Te team from Edinburgh delivered nine shows; five in the Etihad Stadium in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne and four in Wellington’s Westpac Stadium which drew a total audience of over 250,000. Te record-breaking events


TATTOO’S ANTIPODEAN TOUR WORTH $87M


generated more than AUD$37.5m in gross revenue on top of an estimated AUD$50m for the Australian and New Zealand economies. Organisers are now looking to the Gulf Region and Jordan, China and beyond for Tattoos in 2018 and 2020. Te performances featured more


than 1,300 international military and civilian musicians and per- formers, while in Wellington the production included a 200-strong Maori group; the largest cast ever presented by the Tattoo. Tattoo chief executive and


producer, Brigadier David Allfrey, said: “We are hugely proud of all that has been achieved last month; the way so many elements came together elegantly and the amazing response from our audi- ences. Ticket sales were phenom- enal and we were well supported by Red Live Events, the New Zealand Festival and the cities of Melbourne and Wellington.” Informal talks have already


taken place with potential part- ners in the Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Jordan towards the next overseas Tattoo in 2018. “We are working to develop a major Gulf and Jordanian project


over the next two years. Te plan is to create a substantial tour- ing show which showcases the wealth of Arabian talent along- side major Tattoo acts drawn from around the world. Beyond that, we aspire to take the show to Beijing. What a prize,” said Brigadier Allfrey. “Te show stands to cre-


ate all sorts of opportunities for relationship-building in defence, in foreign affairs, in business, tourism and in sharing culture, heritage and the arts. And, we hope the Tattoo will open doors for business people and visitors in all the countries involved,” he added. Since 1950, it has played to


more than 14 million people live in the Scottish capital, while up to 300 million watch highlights on international television each year. Last year, the commercial success of the event in Edinburgh saw the Tattoo donate ££500,000 to UK charities. Tis summer, between 5 - 27


August, around 220,000 people will see a new multinational cast playing the 67th Tattoo on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade. Te show will be staged under the banner of ‘Tunes of Glory’ and will pay particular tribute to HM Te Queen’s 90th Birthday.


www.edintattoo.co.uk PRAISE FOR GLASGOW’S TOLLCROSS SWIM VENUE


Glasgow’s Tollcross praised as venue for Para-Swimming “It’s a great pool and I’m really looking forward to having the trials for the Paralympics there, it’s going to be exciting.” Ellie Simmonds interview, p24 ➜


A survey commissioned by British Swimming, EventScotland, Glasgow Life and UK Sport, and carried out by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre, has indicated that 89% of the total attendance of 3,882 spectators at Tollcross International Swimming Centre were willing to recommend the spectator experience of the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow to friends and family. Encouragingly, 72 or 79 per cent


of spectators with an impairment or disability rated the event’s staff, stewards or volunteers, and other spectators in terms of their dis-


ability awareness as very good, or good respectively. The venue also scored very highly for its acces- sibility in terms of toilets, lifts and ramps and assistance in moving around the venue, and for ease of booking tickets, travel and accom- modation. Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s


Direct of Events, said: “We are delighted by both the praise from IPC Swimming and the results of the study by Sheffield Hallam University which are testament to the efforts of event partners who successfully strived to create an enjoyable experience for specta- tors and participants alike.”


EVENTSBASE | MARCH 2016 | 7


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