Festival

Newport welcomes The Ryder Cup

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:23:00 +0100

Seeing the US team arrive yesterday brought a huge smile to my face and the realisation that the tournament is actually here. It is fantastic that Newport is hosting the 38th Ryder Cup and we are more than ready to host one of the top ten global sporting events.

There is a huge sense of anticipation and excitement in the city as people look forward to welcoming visitors and I feel a huge amount of pride knowing that our city has the logistics and infrastructure to host an event of this magnitude.

The city is dressed and ready to welcome visitors, regeneration projects have altered the landscape of Newport permanently while golf has captured the imagination of our youngsters through The Ryder Cup curriculum and the work of golf development officers.

All that remains now is for the golf to get under way and while the weather and the result is out of our hands, I will be keeping everything crossed that come next Monday I will see a newspaper with the image of Europe's Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie holding The Ryder Cup aloft and read that Newport has just hosted the best ever tournament.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council Leader

What has The Ryder Cup done for Newport?

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 09:34:00 +0100

The tournament may only last three days but for residents of the city the benefits will be felt for a life time.

Being host city to The Ryder Cup has left a number of legacies that everyone will be able to see.

The city has been transformed and is almost unrecognisable from what it was just a few years ago. More than £100m worth of regeneration projects have taken place and as a result new jobs and opportunities of investment have come to the city.

Those arriving by train to our city will now be greeted by the new railway station building, almost futuristic in appearance, it represents the city as modern and vibrant. This leaves a lasting legacy for Newport and there have been improvements to the other key gateways into the city.

One of the other important legacies has been the Newport Festival which has brought people together and attracted visitors to the city who haven't been here before. A world record was made at the Big Splash with the highest ever wire walk in the UK completed and thousands of visitors turned out to watch this great event.

If it wasn't for the city hosting The Ryder Cup then projects would not have gone ahead, for example, the restoration of the Transporter Bridge and other city enhancement projects.

A number of other legacies have been created with high profile sports stars visiting the city. Europe's Ryder Cup captain, Colin Montgomerie, visited Newport's Library earlier in the year and read an extract from his favourite children's book while former football international, Ruud Gullit, visited Hartridge High School recently where he spoke to youngsters and the advice that he passed on will remain with them throughout their lives.

The Ryder Cup has really helped to put Newport on the map and I can confidently say that we have made the most of the opportunity.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council Leader

City ready for The Ryder Cup

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:29:00 +0100

Those visiting the city for the first time will not only be greeted by colourful flags and banners welcoming them to the city but will also notice a sense of anticipation and excitement that has built as the event has got closer. I am sure that residents will give visitors a warm welcome and make them feel at home in our city. One of the unique things that defines Newport from our neighbours is our warmth and generosity and I am sure this will be evident to visitors.

There is a tremendous buzz across Newport as we countdown to the event and I have noticed a real sense of pride among those living in and around the city. A lot of hard work and preparation has gone into ensuring visitors leave with a positive impression and want to return.

A key part of the behind-the-scenes preparation has been the organising of the Family Fun Zone, this will be on John Frost Square from 1-3 October and will have a host of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The golf will be shown live as it happens at the Celtic Manor Resort on a specially constructed big screen and there will be interactive golf, a golf simulator, workshops and golf development activities.

With The Ryder Cup just round the corner, I hope residents are feeling a sense of pride in their city and proud to say they live in Newport, the host city to the 38th Ryder Cup.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council Leader

Ryder Cup fast approaching

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:24:00 +0100

Before we know it the competition will be upon us and the three day golf event will be happening in our city.

As has previously been mentioned, this is our Olympics, our World Cup, and an opportunity to show the city's potential from both a tourism and business opportunity. Newport showed what it was made of last weekend when the city hosted the spectacular event, the Big Splash. French circus performer Olivier Roustan completed the UK's highest ever tightrope walk on the Newport City Footbridge. This was fascinating to watch and it was great to see big crowds come out and support him and lots of media interest was generated.

Celebrations will continue this weekend with the second of the three Big Splash weekends. There will be jet ski stunts on the River Usk as well as other events for everyone to enjoy. This is part of the community legacy that hosting a tournament on the scale of The Ryder Cup brings and ensuring that everyone in the city benefits from Newport hosting the global sporting event.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council Leader

Transporter Bridge re-opening

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:23:00 +0100

It is great to see the bridge back in working order and operating once again in our city.

This bridge has seen many historic times and the re-opening following the restoration work is another important milestone in its history.

The bridge occupies a special place in the hearts of Newport residents and is now one of only two working bridges in the UK.

One of the legacies from The Ryder Cup is having the Transporter Bridge back in working order and it is fantastic that it will be up and running once again in our city.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council leader

YouTube sensation

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:29:00 +0100

The video is witty and gritty, it's imaginative and creative and great publicity for Newport.

We all thought the eyes of the world would be on the city when The Ryder Cup comes to Newport but the eyes of the world are on us now and it's fantastic.

I have received numerous comments from people who have watched the video and love the content - it has certainly left people with a smile on their face and feeling good about the city.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council leader

Protect the SuperDragons

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:40:00 +0100

The SuperDragons project is for the people of Newport and is designed to encourage residents to take pride in the city, something which unfortunately a few mindless individuals do not share.

Local artists have shown their dedication to the project by spending a lot of time and effort decorating a SuperDragon and the designs are of an extremely high standard. I am proud that we have such talent in our city and it is great to see the work they have done on display. For a few mindless individuals to wreck not only the work of the local artists but also to ruin the project for other people is totally unacceptable.

I have heard lots of positive comments about the SuperDragons already and know that people are enjoying following the trail and seeing the dragons on show.

I hope that this level of vandalism stops and that those who do not wish to engage with the project do not continue to ruin it for others. There are people who are proud of what our city has to offer and want to celebrate the creativity of our local residents, long may that continue.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council Leader

SuperDragons ready to breathe fire

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:34:00 +0100

Tonight (Wednesday) I will be attending the special SuperDragons private artists preview event at the Kingsway Centre.

This special event will see all of the painted and decorated SuperDragons in once place for the first time and I am really looking forward to seeing the wide range of eye catching designs.

I know that for the past three months artists have been busy working on their designs and having called into the Dragon's Den on a number of occasions have been very impressed with what I have seen. However, tonight will be the first opportunity to see all of the decorated large SuperDragons and the mini SuperDragons that primary schools have been working on. I am sure they are going to make a wonderful trail of creativity across our city.

I will also be meeting the local artists that have been involved in the project and know that they have spent many hours working on bringing their designs to life.

On Sunday, people attending the Parklife event in Tredegar House will be able to see some of the SuperDragons before the trail officially starts on Monday. If you are planning to go to Parklife or follow the trail then I am sure you are going to be impressed with the work of our local artists in bringing the SuperDragons to life.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council leader

There's plenty to celebrate

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:52:00 +0100

I spent Saturday afternoon enjoying the Maindee Festival parade and the events and activities at the primary school. There were plenty of people making the most of the weather and the entertainment on offer, and the food stalls were doing a roaring trade.

It was also the start of Caerleon Festival, so I'll be heading over to Hanbury Field next weekend to enjoy some oftheevents there.

I'll also be visiting the city centre to see what's on offer at TJs in the Square next weekend. What started as a free event for fans of the late John Sicolo has turned into the music event of the summer. There'll be an 11 hour set of music, with bands such as GLC, Darling Buds and Doctor Bison, as well as a range of family-friendly activities in John Frost Square and the Kingsway Shopping Centre.

Finally, last Wednesday we met with Taylor Wimpey. It's staff are busy clearing the eastern bank of the River Usk (opposite the Riverfront) for crazy golf, fairground rides and trapeze acts, as part of the Big Splash at the end of August. Taylor Wimpey's Martin and Mike have been really helpful and we were delighted to see the progress they are making and to finalise plans for finishing off the work ready for the Big Splash.

- Festival Director, Nic Young

100 days to go

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 08:45:00 +0100

Newport has been preparing for the event for nine years, ever since it was announced The Ryder Cup would be played at the Celtic Manor Resort in 2001.

For residents of Newport, The Ryder Cup is an opportunity and much more than just a three-day sporting event.

The Ryder Cup has acted as a catalyst for a regeneration programme that is transforming the city. There have been many changes with massive redevelopments changing the landscape of Newport for good. The railway station is being redeveloped at a cost of £25m and will deliver an attractive new building and concourse. The Kingsway Centre has been refurbished and there is a new 1,050 space car park and there are further new retail proposals on the horizon.

The riverfront area has been transformed and boasts a state-of-the-art theatre and arts centre with a pedestrian bridge bringing the two areas either side of the river together. A new £35m university campus will deliver two new academic schools with international reputations, Newport Business School and digital, media, film and design elements of Newport School of Art, Media and Design, creating a strong, lifelong education offering.

To celebrate the golfing tournament coming to the city there is a year long festival of events and activities for everyone to get involved with. From community events to world class, spectacular ones - the festival is designed to highlight all that is positive about Newport.

It is great to see local residents getting involved with the festival and sending in their applications to the community fund. There is a £125k pot of money available providing grants and a third has already gone towards more than 28 events, concerts, exhibitions and projects.

The city dressing project is also helping to transform the city and local artists have been involved in the project. A collection of flags, banners and displays will being colour and life across our city.

The Ryder Cup schools education programme is helping children study through a number of golf-related themes and activities and in a world first, the resources will be used by Medinah County, home of the 2012 Ryder Cup. This is a great project and is really helping to engage youngsters and bring education to life.

Golf has been introduced to youngsters who may not have come across the sport before and young people from all backgrounds are having the opportunity to participate in the sport.

With just 100 days to go, The Ryder Cup really is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us, it is creating lasting legacies and I hope everyone will get involved and behind us as we countdown to staging a memorable tournament.

Cllr Matthew Evans
Council Leader