Awards accolade for city's drive to make millions from staging events

TWO of Hull's most successful events have been short-listed for national awards – underlining how the city is now raking in millions of pounds from staging spectaculars.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th Sep 2010, 12:23 BST
Updated 20th Sep 2010, 12:23 BST

Freedom 2009 and the start of the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race have reached the final of two categories in the Event UK Awards.

They are in the running for Best Cultural Event and the Best Use of an Outdoor Space categories – despite stiff competition from successful events across the country including the MOBO Awards.

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Hull Council's portfolio holder for culture, Coun John Robinson, said: "To be shortlisted in the same list as the MOBO Awards 2009 is wonderful feeling and a fantastic achievement."

Tourism officials combined the 2009's race start with the Freedom events, attracting crowds of 150,000 people to the city centre over three days in September which brought in more than 9.3m for the region.

This led to Freedom being announced as an annual event which returned on September 10 and 11 this year .

Visit Hull and East Yorkshire's chief executive, Janet Reuben, said: "The 2009 festival was a huge success for this region and showed that Hull can host major events – a position we have continued to enjoy with this year's Freedom."

Related topics:HullClipper