‘The Most Powerful Man In World Cycling’
Brian Cookson, OBE has never won an Olympic or World Championship medal and he’s never won the Tour de France. By his own omission he was “never good enough to be a professional cyclist and never selected to compete for Great Britain”. The media have referred to him as the most powerful man in world cycling on more than one occasion, but it’s fair to say that unless you are a serious follower of cycling, you may never have heard of him
Brian is a Preston man who is widely acknowledged for restoring integrity back into the sport of cycling. He has recently been appointed Chair of the Board of Active Lancashire, the strategic lead for sport and physical activity in the county.
He brings a wealth of experience within sport to the role, most notably in the world of cycling where he held the position of President for the British Cycling Federation and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the global governing body for cycling.
Brain said: “I’ve worked for the sport as a local, regional, national and international official for forty years. I spent nine years (1984-93) as a member of the British Cycling Federation’s Racing Committee.
“In November 1996, when the entire BCF Board was removed from office on a vote of no confidence, I headed up an Emergency Committee that took over the running of that organisation. I became its President, leading its transformation from a basket-case into an award-winning organisation, with British riders winning multiple Olympic and Paralympic medals, numerous world championships, and most of the greatest races of the world cycling calendar.”
Brian was awarded an OBE for services to cycling in 2008 and played a key role in improving the perception and integrity of the sport during the last decade, whilst developing opportunities for previously neglected areas within the sport such as women’s cycling and cycling in developing nations.
By the end of 2012, Great Britain had won almost all the cycling golds at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Team GB were the world’s top-ranked cycling nation, cycling had become arguably the nation’s most popular participation sport, and British Cycling was in a period of exponential growth, winning numerous awards for its achievements.
Next for Brian was the UCI, l’Union Cycliste International, the sport’s world governing body. Brian explained: “The UCI was in serious difficulties thanks to its mishandling of a series of major scandals, this organisation too needed new leadership. And in September 2013, in the great hall of the astonishing Pallazio Vecchio in Florence, where 500 years earlier Machiavelli had worked his devious plots, I was elected President after a bitter and controversial election campaign – the first time the incumbent President of any international sports federation had been defeated for some 40 years.
“For the following four years, I worked with the UCI’s Management Committee and with my Executive Team to try to bring about a re-setting of the sport’s image and credibility, and to ensure that this was achieved through the reality of the highest possible standards of ethics and good governance. We achieved many good things in that four years. After the all-time low of being threatened with removal from the Olympic Games, a new level of credibility was achieved.”
Now at 70, back in his home county of Lancashire, after a lifetime of commitment to sport Brian takes up a new role with Active Lancashire. Following two years as a board member he becomes Head of the Board, at a pivotal moment in the organisation’s 20-year history, ahead of the launch of a new 10-year strategy that will drive the organisation forward and expand its growing responsibility in health, the local economy and physical activity in Lancashire.
On his appointment, Brian said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed as the next Chair of the Board at Active Lancashire. To be able to contribute to such a dynamic organisation that improves the quality of life for people in my home county is a wonderful opportunity indeed. I am looking forward to working with board members, our driven and talented staff and our huge network of volunteers and partner organisations to take this vital work forward in the coming years.”
Adrian Leather, Chief Executive at Active Lancashire (pictured to the right of Brian), adds: “I am delighted that Brian has stepped forward to become our new Board Chair. Brian’s personal commitment to grassroots sport and active lifestyles, combined with his experience in leading sport at an international level and his professional experience of leading regeneration in deprived communities gives me huge optimism for an exciting and challenging next chapter of Active Lancashire’s work, under Brian’s leadership.”
Active Lancashire was founded in 2000. Originally named Lancashire Sport Partnership, the not-for-profit organisation has evolved over the years and now employs over 50 members of staff who connect with more than 100 partners across a variety of sectors. As the strategic lead for sport and physical activity across the county, locally Active Lancashire connect with like-minded organisations to help bring about active lifestyles and nationally they represent one of the many Sport England-led Active Partnerships that drive a sports delivery system across the country.
They believe that sport and physical activity have the power to influence behaviours and develop skills which can have a broader, positive impact on people’s lives.
Their work in leading and facilitating effective partnerships across the county from key influential decision makers, through to community grass roots organisations aims to encourage Lancashire residents to engage in sport and physical activity and lead a happy, healthy, more prosperous life.
For more information please visit: activelancashire.org.uk
