Press release

Olympic Games producer inspires students to take global events industry to new level

The producer of the Athens Olympic Games will make a one-off presentation in Scotland’s capital city in a bid to inspire students to take the global events industry to new heights.

William Morton, the producer of the 2004 Olympic Games’ opening and closing ceremonies in Athens, Greece, will speak to students, staff and Scottish event management professionals at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh on Monday 17 May.

His company, Jack Morton Worldwide, is known for its creation and production of some of the world’s biggest and most successful corporate and public events.

The presentation will provide a fascinating insight into William Morton’s long and illustrious career that has included producing ceremonial events for the Manchester and Melbourne Commonwealth Games, as well as the Winter and Summer Olympic Games opening ceremonies.

Professor Joe Goldblatt, Director of the International Centre for the Study of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University, said: “This is an exceptional opportunity for people to hear from one of the most talented and respected people in the international event arena. We want to extend this invitation to other event management professions so that the wider industry can benefit from his incredible experience and foresight.”

The event is planned to be partly interactive, with four event management students interviewing Mr Morton about aspects of his impressive career. In turn, Bill Morton aims to highlight some pointers which will encourage the next generation to take the planning, design and management of global events to an even more sophisticated level.

The presentation, ‘My Career and Your Future in Global Special Events’, will take place at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Scotland on Monday 17, May 2010, 1:30pm.Places are free and seating is limited, so booking is essential. To reserve your place please email Yu Chieh Cheng on email: ycheng@qmu.ac.uk or tel: +44 (0)131 474 0000.

ENDS

For further media information please contact Lynne Russell, Press and PR Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, tel: 0131 474 0000.

Notes to editor

• William Morton is the former chairman of Jack Morton Worldwide, a leading experiential marketing agency, known for produced some of the world’s biggest events.
• In 1963 William Morton went to New York City with two suitcases and a degree in communications. He started at Jack Morton Productions with just two people in the office. Forty-one years later, the company produced the 2004 Olympic Games’ opening and closing ceremonies in Athens. He also pioneered the use of emerging technologies in the delivery of events, thus transforming events into experiences.
• Bill Morton is an inductee of The Event Industry Hall of Fame.