Event designing Olympics chain

Event Communications is believed to be designing an international chain of visitor attractions based around the Olympics.

Un-named investors are also rumoured to be involved in the highly confidential venture, but Event refuses to comment on the work, and International Olympics Committee representatives deny knowledge of any plans.

The IOC is not thought to be the client, but the committee would have to approve anything related to the Olympics.

Grant Leisure is believed to be one of the partners in the project. The company has worked on museums concepts in the past, including a 6m visitor centre in Leeds for brewer Joshua Tetley.

Grant Leisure principal Andrew Grant says more details on the Olympics project are due in five or six weeks but declines to give details. He only adds: “It’s not a museums project. It’s also not anything to do with the Olympics in Atlanta.”

A source suggests that the project could centre on plans to create permanent exhibitions or entertainment complexes around the world charting the history and future of the Olympics.

Event is rumoured to have been working on concepts and feasibility studies at potential sites for a “considerable time”, says the source. Each site could have an Olympic exhibition focusing on its country’s contribution to a variety of Olympic sports.