The Commonwealth of Podge

The annual Sports Podge lunch took place at the Institute of Directors last week and as always with the lunch the sports theme played a big part in proceedings. Having had boxing, anabolics horseracing, football, world records and rugby in previous year’s this year was themed around the Commonwealth Games.

The 250 invite-only guests were on 25 tables, each representing a country with its own flag and dialects etc, the move half way through the lunch when 125 guests changed tables took the form of a diplomatic exchange between countries. All very tongue in cheek but beautifully designed and as with all podge lunches having its own website www.sportspodge.co.uk.

50% of the guests are rotated every year to keep the lunch fresh and this year’s guest list is live on www.sportspodge.co.uk/2014/athletes/and as always it was a mix of people from athletics, football, rugby, cricket, clubs, charities, bodies, sponsors etc etc.

Bill Sweeney, the CEO of British Olympic Association and attended this years event, said: “I always enjoy Sportspodge days, one of the benefits of returning to London is to be able to attend on a more regular basis. It’s a highly knowledgeable attendee group and the atmosphere is relaxed, convivial, being highly informative and productive.”

Founder and organiser Phil Jones was really pleased with the way this year’s lunch went and is now planning the theme for the 10^th anniversary lunch in 2015 and briefing in designers and digital teams to bring it all to life.

Phil is also working on music podge which will make its debut at the Café Royal in September this year.

More Pictures Below:

Edwin Moses enjoying Sports Podge 2014

Liverpool CEO Ian Ayre with ex Liverpool centre half Mark Wright at Sports Podge 2014

Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson chatting with Matt Jones of Benchmark Sport