NWDA proud to be a part of Euro (From Warrington Guardian)

NWDA proud to be a part of Euro

THE North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA) is proud to be an official partner of the 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship.

Women's Euro 2005 is coming to England's north west from June 5-19 and the NWDA is providing support to ensure the event's success.

As part of their contribution to the success of the tournament, the NWDA is pleased to sponsor the production of the tournament's official video, which will promote the event and the region as a whole.

The north west has long been a European heartland of football. Not only does the region provide first-rate talent to Europe's leading football clubs but the north west has also played host to many major football tournaments, including the UEFA Champions League Final in 2003.

It was in this region that professional football found its birthplace and it hosts the National Football Museum at Deepdale, Preston.

The North West Regional Development Agency

The NWDA is one of nine regional development agencies established by the government to develop the English regions.

The NWDA is responsible for the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England's north west and has five key priorities - business development, regeneration, skills and Employment, infrastructure and Image.

The budget is currently £1.4 billion over the next three years. Working through five sub-regional offices to provide practical solutions to local problems, the NWDA aims to directly influence £1.2 billion of economically focussed expenditure every year to support the delivery of the regional economic strategy.

Sport in England's north west

Sport contributes more than £1.1 billion to the regional economy and there are almost 50,000 people employed in sports related activities in the north west. Sports events such as the UEFA European Women's Championship are a key ingredient in this important contribution to the region, supporting this dynamic industry and maintaining the extremely high standard of sporting talent in England's north west.

The north west has an excellent track record of maximising the economic benefits of sporting events. In the past three years the region has been home to the Commonwealth Games, the Partially Sighted World Football Championships, the UCI Track Cycling World Cup and the Triathlon World Cup.

The consequent success of these events proves that the region has the operational and business expertise to host and support major sporting events.