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From frontline to Olympic starting line From frontline to Olympic starting line
(about 8 hours later)
By Bill Wilson Business reporter, BBC News Mr Mills gained expertise at the 2008 Beijing games and other eventsBy Bill Wilson Business reporter, BBC News Mr Mills gained expertise at the 2008 Beijing games and other events
Former Army officer Dennis Mills knows about challenges, having served in former troublesome hotspots such as Bosnia and Northern Ireland. Former army officer Dennis Mills knows about challenges, having served in former trouble spots such as Bosnia and Northern Ireland.
But now he is facing a test of a different kind - helping British firms to win contracts for the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic games and other sporting events. But now he is facing a test of a different kind - helping British firms to win contracts for the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games and other sporting events.
There is strong competition for lucrative contracts, particularly from countries which have staged Olympic games in recent years, such as Australia and China. There is strong competition for lucrative contracts, particularly from countries which have staged Olympic Games in recent years, such as Australia and China.
After leaving the army, Mr Mills worked for defence and aerospace firm Thales, in charge of leading the company's security bid for the London 2012 Olympics. After leaving the Army, Mr Mills worked for defence and aerospace firm Thales, in charge of leading the company's security bid for the London 2012 Olympics.
He also worked for IT services company Atos Origin at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and on the firm's London 2012 account.He also worked for IT services company Atos Origin at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and on the firm's London 2012 account.
In these posts, he came to the conclusion that not enough was being done to bring major sporting events and potential suppliers together, so he launched Major Events International (MEI).In these posts, he came to the conclusion that not enough was being done to bring major sporting events and potential suppliers together, so he launched Major Events International (MEI).
'Fantastic opportunity''Fantastic opportunity'
Mr Mills started MEI with £100,000 of his own money, with the idea of introducing "business expertise" and events organisers to one another in a "marketplace for buyers to meet suppliers".Mr Mills started MEI with £100,000 of his own money, with the idea of introducing "business expertise" and events organisers to one another in a "marketplace for buyers to meet suppliers".
Increasingly, the 2012 event is being seen as a problem, when we should be seeing it as an opportunity for business Dennis Mills, Major Events InternationalIncreasingly, the 2012 event is being seen as a problem, when we should be seeing it as an opportunity for business Dennis Mills, Major Events International
The 53-year-old says that Australian firms have made at least $100m around sporting events since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, after selling themselves "as the only experts out there".The 53-year-old says that Australian firms have made at least $100m around sporting events since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, after selling themselves "as the only experts out there".
"And the Chinese firms that got contracts for Beijing want - on the back of that - to get business around London 2012."And the Chinese firms that got contracts for Beijing want - on the back of that - to get business around London 2012.
"We need to reposition and promote UK firms so that they become the new experts and suppliers around sporting events."We need to reposition and promote UK firms so that they become the new experts and suppliers around sporting events.
"The 2012 Olympics in London is a fantastic opportunity for UK firms to start that process.""The 2012 Olympics in London is a fantastic opportunity for UK firms to start that process."
British firms as well as athletes can potentially win at London 2012British firms as well as athletes can potentially win at London 2012
He adds: "Increasingly, the 2012 event is being seen as a problem, when we should be seeing it as an opportunity for business and the country as a whole."He adds: "Increasingly, the 2012 event is being seen as a problem, when we should be seeing it as an opportunity for business and the country as a whole."
Not surprisingly, given his background, security advice is a major part of what MEI can offer.Not surprisingly, given his background, security advice is a major part of what MEI can offer.
"For example, even things like selling ice cream or cleaning toilets at sporting venues need security-cleared people," he says."For example, even things like selling ice cream or cleaning toilets at sporting venues need security-cleared people," he says.
"We can save people a lot of time by knocking on doors for both the organisers and firms that provide security-cleared people, and bringing the two sides together.""We can save people a lot of time by knocking on doors for both the organisers and firms that provide security-cleared people, and bringing the two sides together."
Wider investmentWider investment
Where once Mr Mills commanded a regiment, he now has a team of five full-time members of staff, and 19 in total, under his command.Where once Mr Mills commanded a regiment, he now has a team of five full-time members of staff, and 19 in total, under his command.
In addition to supporting firms, MEI can help cities formulate bids to hold events - from the initial hosting bid to the build phase, running the event and even "legacy" issues after the athletes have all gone home.In addition to supporting firms, MEI can help cities formulate bids to hold events - from the initial hosting bid to the build phase, running the event and even "legacy" issues after the athletes have all gone home.
DECADE OF UK SPORTING EVENTS 2010: Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor2011: Champions League final, Wembley2012: Olympic Games, London2013: Rugby League World Cup2014: Ryder Cup, Gleneagles2014: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow2015: Rugby World Cup2019: Cricket World Cup
ADDITIONAL BID 2018 Football World Cup		DECADE OF UK SPORTING EVENTS 2010: Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor2011: Champions League final, Wembley2012: Olympic Games, London2013: Rugby League World Cup2014: Ryder Cup, Gleneagles2014: Commonwealth Games, Glasgow2015: Rugby World Cup2019: Cricket World Cup
ADDITIONAL BID 2018 Football World Cup
Along that timeline, from bidding to the closing event, there can be a lot of heartache, budget changes and swings in public opinion.Along that timeline, from bidding to the closing event, there can be a lot of heartache, budget changes and swings in public opinion.
"Most nations pour money into the actual sporting event, but we are trying to drive business opportunities through the whole timeline - from cities being awarded events to the post-games phase.""Most nations pour money into the actual sporting event, but we are trying to drive business opportunities through the whole timeline - from cities being awarded events to the post-games phase."
"Many people would think the legacy of the London Olympics would be around the venues," says Mr Mills, "but that is only a very small part of it."Many people would think the legacy of the London Olympics would be around the venues," says Mr Mills, "but that is only a very small part of it.
"It is about investment in infrastructure and business.""It is about investment in infrastructure and business."
And while there are websites looking to provide UK firms with work in connection with the 2012 games, Mr Mills points out that it is not just the Olympics that is coming to the UK. And while there are websites looking to provide UK firms with work in connection with the 2012 Games, Mr Mills points out that it is not just the Olympics that is coming to the UK.
Indeed, there are a host of other large sporting events on the UK horizon in a "golden decade of sport", including potentially the 2018 football World Cup, all of which - he says - offer major sports business opportunities. Indeed, there is a host of other large sporting events on the UK horizon in a "golden decade of sport", including potentially the 2018 football World Cup, all of which - he says - offer major sports business opportunities.
'Huge value''Huge value'
As an army officer for 20 years, he gained experience of managing people and major projects, such as introducing new radio systems.As an army officer for 20 years, he gained experience of managing people and major projects, such as introducing new radio systems.
That project management and security experience then took on a sports event aspect when he moved into industry.That project management and security experience then took on a sports event aspect when he moved into industry.
"I got an insight at Thales about how to bid for a contract for major events, and at Atos Origin, I ran their London 2012 account."I got an insight at Thales about how to bid for a contract for major events, and at Atos Origin, I ran their London 2012 account.
Chinese firms will now be looking for 2012 Olympic contractsChinese firms will now be looking for 2012 Olympic contracts
"That involved providing infrastructure for the Olympic Delivery Authority at the Olympic Park and looking at security issues surrounding the 2012 infrastructure.""That involved providing infrastructure for the Olympic Delivery Authority at the Olympic Park and looking at security issues surrounding the 2012 infrastructure."
Mr Mills says he also has gained significant experience attending the Asian Games, the Pan-American Games, the Winter Olympics and the summer Olympics in Beijing last year.Mr Mills says he also has gained significant experience attending the Asian Games, the Pan-American Games, the Winter Olympics and the summer Olympics in Beijing last year.
"I have seen massive national transformations around sporting events, such as at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, and which will happen around the Commonwealth Games in India next year," he says."I have seen massive national transformations around sporting events, such as at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, and which will happen around the Commonwealth Games in India next year," he says.
"The games bring huge value to the countries that stage them, and business can win huge contracts."The games bring huge value to the countries that stage them, and business can win huge contracts.
"It should be seen a more than merely a sporting event being hosted in a new venue.""It should be seen a more than merely a sporting event being hosted in a new venue."
2016 decision2016 decision
Now he is eagerly awaiting the decision that will be taken in Copenhagen, Denmark, in early October to decide the venue of the 2016 Olympics.Now he is eagerly awaiting the decision that will be taken in Copenhagen, Denmark, in early October to decide the venue of the 2016 Olympics.
The four bid cities are Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Madrid in Spain, Chicago in the US and Tokyo in Japan.The four bid cities are Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Madrid in Spain, Chicago in the US and Tokyo in Japan.
"We have just opened an office in Brazil, which is running a fantastic campaign and can leverage its hosting of the World Cup there in 2014 and the 2006 Pan American games, " he says. "We have just opened an office in Brazil, which is running a fantastic campaign and can leverage its hosting of the World Cup there in 2014 and the 2006 Pan American Games, " he says.
But he says that all the bids have their merits and, whoever wins, he says MEI will be looking to provide specialist expertise to the winning city, as well as providing a conduit for firms wanting to win 2016 contracts.But he says that all the bids have their merits and, whoever wins, he says MEI will be looking to provide specialist expertise to the winning city, as well as providing a conduit for firms wanting to win 2016 contracts.
"Not many people have got experience of involvement with major events," he says."Not many people have got experience of involvement with major events," he says.
"There needs to be a recognition that there is big opportunity for business that goes beyond just the immediate few weeks of a sporting event."There needs to be a recognition that there is big opportunity for business that goes beyond just the immediate few weeks of a sporting event.
"But more needs to be done to bring bidding cities and business together, and I would like to think that this is where we have found a gap in the market.""But more needs to be done to bring bidding cities and business together, and I would like to think that this is where we have found a gap in the market."