The Olympic Games Bidding Process
In 2001 Toronto bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Despite losing the Games to Beijing, the International Olympic Selection Committee stated that Toronto's was one of the most exciting bids they had seen.
Black Isle's task in assisting with this bid had two challenges. First we had to find the time to train all the speakers who came from Government, Industry, Sports and the Arts. Secondly we had to organise the rewriting and rehearsals, before the actual presentation week in front of the Olympic Bid Selection Committee.
There were 18 different presenting teams, known as "themes". They ranged from National and City to Legal to Transport to Security to Culture. Many of the themes felt they did not need to take time out for coaching. They were already giving their time voluntarily from their jobs. Once the word spread that Black Isle helped with presenting style and delivery that would not only help with the Bidding process, but that would reflect on their own day to day work, most people asked to be coached.
In some cases we only had 15 minutes in which to advise the speaker, but generally we had half a day with the more important presenters. In many cases the content of the presentation was not succinct and we were asked to format and rewrite them.
The rehearsals went well and the final presentations received high praise.
The presentations to the Committee are the most important part of the whole Bidding process. Not spending the time and effort to make the speakers really ignite the audience's interest would be a disaster.