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James Pearce

Fascinating speaker James Pearce was the BBC's Sports News Correspondent for over a decade reporting on the world's biggest sports events. An expert on the Olympics, he is also a highly skilled event host. James has also established himself as one of the world's leading communications trainers working with some of the best-known faces on the planet.

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About James Pearce

James Pearce has 20 years experience of presenting live BBC broadcasts under his belt. James was a senior correspondent for BBC News, working across all the BBC’s TV and Radio programmes. He was a regular reporter on outlets ranging from the Today Programme to Newsnight. He spent eleven years as the BBC’s Olympics Correspondent for London 2012, leading BBC News’ coverage of the Games all the way from the start of the London bid in 2001 to the remarkable event in 2012. James now runs a world leading communications agency which he founded in 2013.

 

Biography

James Pearce describes his job as a sports broadcaster as one of the best in the world, and it’s easy to see why. He’s spent the past two decades travelling the globe, reporting from all the biggest sports events, and interviewing all the biggest names.

The list of major conferences hosted by James in the past few years is lengthy. Clients include the ‘International Sports Event Management Conference’, the ‘National Merchant Buying Society’s 2014 Conference’ in Tenerife and the ‘United City Global Sports Summit’.

In his role as Olympics Correspondent, he lead the BBC’s News coverage of the London Olympics and Paralympics all the way from 2001, when a 2012 bid was first discussed.  James saw this through to the glorious Games of 2012.  It was a job that took James to the heart of government. He was broadcasting live in Singapore in 2005, alongside Sue Barker, when London won the vote to host the Olympics and Paralympics.

James  went on the start his own communications agency in 2013, and it quickly grew into a business that operates in every corner of the world. He is a highly sought after communications who has worked with some of the biggest names on the planet, including the England football players, coaching them on how to deliver better interviews.

James’ conference sessions showcase skills that he’s used in interviewing all 6 of the UK’s most recent Prime Ministers. He delivers talks on effective communications that will change the way that you approach any important conversation.

His talks are aimed at anybody working in the world of business. These are skills that can be taken into meetings, presentations or just the snatched conversation next to the coffee machine. They can help  increase sales or improve interdepartmental relationships.

James emphasises that we all need to be salespeople – for ourselves and our personal careers, and also for the companies that employ us. James talks can give audiences the skills to prepare key messages and then how to deliver them with maximum effect.  He can also teach the art of handling difficult questions from colleagues or clients without losing the trust of your questioner – an essential tool for so many of us.  His  talks are entertaining, interactive, and extremely educational. You will quickly understand why James is credited with making dramatic improvements to the communications skills of so many of his clients.

 

 

Speech Topics

An entertaining speaker, James Pearce offers you an insight into what it has been like to be at the heart of British sport for twenty years, and he can spill the beans on some of the personalities he’s come across during that time. He might tell you about how he walked out of an interview with Sir Bradley Wiggins, or how he once put a sportsman’s identical twin brother on air by mistake. As a veteran of four Summer Olympics, three Winter Olympics, three Football World Cups, three Commonwealth Games and countless other major sports occasions, James is not short of a story or two. James tailors his speeches to each client’s requirements.

Sports  Commentary Booth

The Sports Commentary Booth provides a novel and unique way to keep people entertained during your conference, exhibition or other major event? It is a fun and perfect solution.

Many people have wondered what it must be like to be a sports commentator and others have secretly wanted to be one. Well there chance is here are The Commentary Booth offers you and your clients the chance to demonstrate their skills as the next John Motson or Peter Alliss. You choose the sport and The Commentary Booth provides the TV footage. Maybe you would like to describe the winning goal from the 1966 World Cup Final, Andy Murray’s final shot in his Wimbledon Final victory, or Jean Van de Velde’s infamous difficulties in the burn at Carnoustie during the Open.

The portable commentary booth is brought to you and you’ll be greeted by a well-known TV commentator*. You’ll be given some valuable tips by the expert before it’s time to have a go yourself. Take a deep breath and then add your own individual touch to some memorable sporting moments.

Afterwards each person will be given a weblink so they can go home and show family and friends. All videos are password protected so nobody needs to worry as no one else will be able to see it unless they choose to share their magic moment!

The main aim of The Sports Commentary Booth is for everybody to have fun but as this is sport The Commentary Booth likes to add a competitive edge to proceedings. A ‘golden microphone’ trophy is presented to the person judged to have delivered the best commentary during the day or evening.

And if you think your guests or clients need a drink before their brave enough to have a go The Commentary Booth offers an after dinner version which brings the house down. The expert commentator* takes to the stage in front of the audience, gives a very brief demonstration and then it’s competition time. There’s no hiding place. This is either hilarious acclamation or humiliation. The TV footage will appear on a large screen and the audience gets to judge those who have put themselves forward as commentators. The best two will return to the stage for a final showdown and they should be warned to expect the unexpected!

The booth can be branded and you will have a choice of commentators.

 

Team Building or After Dinner Quiz

In a nutshell the Quiz is three rounds of 12 questions during dinner. The first round commences after the starter, the second one after the main and the third after the dessert. The topics such as sport, comedy, music and so forth are chosen by the booker.

Each table or team has a keypad and the questions are multiple choice. They are asked to press either A,B,C or D for each question. Some of the questions in each round will be video questions on a big screen.

The electronic scoring which appears on the big screen is instant. If scores are tied the computer separates the teams by which one has the quickest average response time for questions.

The winning table or team from each of the three rounds progresses to the final. (Scores are re-set after each round, so a table or team can finish last in round one but will reach the final if they win round two – this keeps all teams interested right up to the end).

The final take place on stage. All three tables or teams, or at least one member of each table or team, comes forward to the stage. We have large electronic buzzers which look like the ones on a TV show.

The final is a quick fire round of 30 questions. The team who answers the most questions correctly wins the quiz.

The quiz is hosted by BBC Sports Presenter James Pearce* who created this concept.

*If you wish to book someone else to host the Quiz we are happy to make alternative suggestions which will be dependent on your available budget.

Booking Information

Testimonials

"James Pearce delivered a brilliant after dinner speech that gave our conference audience a fascinating insight into the world of the sports correspondent. A funny and fast paced session that revealed the pressures, near misses and occasional catastrophes that can go on behind the scenes when sport is reported on our TV screens. You‘ll never look at a sports reporter in the same way again! Great entertainment, and not just for the sports fan."

CIPFA Audit Conference

"James was an excellent host for our 2014 Industry Conference in Tenerife, where over 400 delegates enjoyed his personal charm and attention to detail and some great stories, that made the whole event run smoothly and on time. He really went the extra mile with our delegates and spent a lot of time talking and mixing with everyone outside of the main conference hall, which really added to making the whole event more friendly and the most memorable conference ever. Thanks James!"

National Merchant Buying Society Ltd

"James played a key role as host for three experiential evenings at our International Sales Meeting in London for an audience of 400 guests from Asia Pacific, EMEA and the Americas. James’ role involved introducing and directing the overall flow for the three evenings and leading interviews as part of main stage content. James is a highly skilled communicator and a joy to have as part of our team in delivering a great sales meeting."

New Balance

"James Pearce was an excellent host at the ukactive Summit. The health, sport and physical activity sector’s set piece political event of the year. He challenged our speakers, engaged our delegates and brought his own passion to the event, which led to it being a great success. We look forward to working with James in the future."

UK Active

"I attend numerous conferences, and James Pearce's talk on communications is the single standout speech from all that I have ever seen. It's not often that you leave a conference with your mind opened up to a whole new way of thinking. This is going to improve the way that I communicate with clients and colleagues, and I am so excited to be able to put some of these ideas into practice."

Louis Howarth, Howarth Timber and Building Supplies

Videos

James Pearce News

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