LOSSES from the cultural and sporting event Sheftival, held during last summer’s Olympics, are almost 10 times the sum initially reported.
Officials had said the cost of subsidising the event, at the Don Valley Stadium, Don Valley Bowl, English Institute of Sport and Sheffield Arena, was £20,000.
But Sheffield International Venues, which runs the sites on behalf of Sheffield Council, said ‘accounts just finalised indicate the event cost nearly £180,000’.
Sheftival featured a mix of sports taster events, live music and live action on a big screen showing Jess Ennis winning gold in the heptathlon.
SIV said the event attracted 20,000 visitors and led to an uptake in people taking part in sport, volunteering, and joining its membership schemes such as Fitness Unlimited.
Steve Brailey, chief executive of SIV, said: “We would have liked to have seen a better financial return. But the investment – at no cost to the council or any of our facilities including Don Valley Stadium and Stocksbridge Leisure Centre – brought benefits to the city.”
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