Pitch looms for UK Olympics 2012 PR brief

The company’s key partners – the Government, Greater London Authority and the British Olympic Association (BOA) – have highlighted PR as a priority, as International Olympic Committee members, who decide on the location, cannot be lobbied directly.

It is understood IOC members pay particular attention to coverage in the UK media.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman Tim Vine said: ‘Communicating effectively to the committee will be critical to the case.’

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has indicated a chairman will be appointed and the company will be set up by the end of June at the latest.

The hiring of a director of comms as well as a CEO will follow, and a pitch for external PR support could get under way in just ten weeks’ time.

Media manager of the BOA Philip Pope said so far around 100 PROs, agencies and marketers have already made contact with the organisation with a view to handling the event.

Pope said: ‘We’ve got a good list of those we know want to help.’

It is understood that likely front runners include Weber Shandwick and its affiliate Jon Tibbs Associates, Bell Pottinger and Hill & Knowlton.

Tibbs, while at Bell Pottinger, worked alongside Weber Shandwick to help secure the 2008 Olympics for Beijing.