City must run with the 2012 baton

Working closely with clients and really getting under the skin of what they do and how they operate is one of the most interesting aspects of our work.
We have been lucky enough to work with several clients over long periods of time, and it is often when that relationship matures that the best results are achieved.
You become so in tune with a client that you really share in its successes and, painfully, feel the more testing moments.
That former aspect is certainly true of our time working for the Ricoh Arena.
We first got involved in the plans when the then chairman of Coventry City, Bryan Richardson, had the idea to move the club to a new stadium and bought the current site.
His scheme never came to fruition, but the seed was sewn and the current stadium was born. Advent helped mount a campaign that ultimately saw it funded through the council, PRd the planning application and the financial support of AWM.
So it really is incredible to think that around a decade later, it will be bringing the greatest sports festival on earth to Coventry. To Coventry – imagine what people would have said if you had predicted that 12 years ago.
And not only that – it recently announced that Coldplay will start their UK tour at the venue. Oh, and not to forget that the Rugby World Cup is coming to the Ricoh in 2015.
The Ricoh is the perfect manifestation of just what can be achieved with a lofty ambition, as long as it is driven with a practical determination and strong leadership.A few could learn from from those ingredients.
I fervently hope that the city and the surrounding area embrace 2012, because it is getting ever closer, will be done and dusted very quickly and will not be back.
The city has already achieved a massive amount around 2012 with a string of initiatives which have embraced the community and business.
The City Council has used the winning of the games as a catalyst for regeneration and really put its money where its mouth is – it should be applauded for that.
The city has a live site, the torch relay is coming here, teams will be hosted in the city – and the torch itself was made in the city.
Last week, I was at a meeting for Coventry and Warwickshire organisations and a fast-moving agenda covering all the 2012 activity still took two hours to cover.
It is often said that a strong sense of civic pride is needed to drive a city forward and that is certainly what 2012 should be bringing to Coventry.
To not really capture and build on that energy would be a crying shame. It is an opportunity that cannot be missed.