By Karen Sibson, Manchester Chamber

Commonwealth Games organisers have moved to allay fears raised by small businesses that they've been priced out of what's been dubbed the 'affordable Games'.

Small businesses had been complaining that they have been priced out of lucrative sponsorship deals.

But now there's good news for companies without huge marketing budgets, with the Games organisers launching a comprehensive range of corporate hospitality packages.

Dubbed Club Sport, this latest initiative is designed to offer corporate hospitality opportunities for companies large and small, starting at just £250 per head.

Concerns have also be allayed that those operating in the same sectors as key Games sponsors and partners would be automatically precluded from taking advantage of corporate hospitality have also been addressed.

While High Street names including Asda, Cadbury and Microsoft have pledged millions to be official sponsors of the Games, organisers are keen to point out that it doesn't automatically mean that companies working in the same sectors can't get involved as well.

Confusion

Trish Tracey, general manager of Non Sports Venues for the Games, explained that there has been confusion over the matter.

She said: "Some newspapers have reported that several sponsors have exclusivity over their business category when it comes to sponsorship and corporate hospitality.

"This isn't strictly the case, but we have to be sensible about it. For example, if we are approached by a company in a similar line of work as one of our official sponsors and partners, wanting to buy into corporate hospitality, we will make a judgement at the time of the request."

Trish, who was employed in a similar capacity at the Sydney Olympics, is keen that the corporate hospitality packages are taken up by small operations and individuals as well the multi-nationals.

"So far, we've sold around 2,000 of our 4,000 corporate hospitality packages," she explained, "and around 65 per cent have gone to north west companies.

This means businesses will have excellent networking opportunities at Club Sport where we envisage a huge cross section of business people will rub shoulders. In fact, it's the networking event of the decade!"

Starting at £250, the packages all include top class tickets, a choice of dining options and a corporate shuttle service between Club Sport and the sporting venues.

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