O ran sicrhau manteision i fusnes o’r Gemau, efallai mai’r contract uchaf ei broffil oedd i fathu’r holl fedalau, sef cyfrifoldeb y Bathdy Brenhinol, Llantrisant. Yn ogystal, roedd incwm o’r 11 o gemau pêl-droed Olympaidd a gynhaliwyd yng Nghaerdydd, dinas Olympaidd Cymru, gyda thorf o bron 350,000 yn heidio i Stadiwm y Mileniwm – gyda’r mwyafrif o’r tu allan i Gymru; cymerodd Llywodraeth Cymru ran yn y broses i sicrhau cyfleoedd busnes uniongyrchol o’r paratoadau ar gyfer y Gemau cyn gynted â phosibl. Gan weithio gyda phartneriaid ac yn uniongyrchol gyda busnesau, buom yn annog cwmnïau i gofrestru ar gyfer contractau Olympaidd a chyfleodd busnes tebyg ar gyfer y digwyddiad. Yn sgil y broses hon, enillodd 69 o fusnesau Cymreig gontractau cysylltiedig â’r Gemau Olympaidd, gan ennill profiad gwerthfawr a chontractau busnes newydd i helpu gyda gwaith posibl yn y dyfodol. Yn sgil y gemau pêl-droed, gwelwyd Caerdydd ar lwyfan byd eang fel dinas Olympaidd ryngwladol, gyda’r cylchoedd Olympaidd y tu allan i Neuadd y Ddinas yn ganolbwynt i statws Olympaidd y rhanbarth. Manteisiwyd yn briodol ar y cyfleoedd busnes yn sgil y gemau eu hunain, a chroesawais gysylltiadau busnes allweddol mewn blwch yn y stadiwm yng ngêm gogynderfynol y dynion er mwyn gwneud y gorau o’r cyfleoedd oedd yn codi yn sgil achlysur o’r fath.
In terms of deriving business benefit from the Games, perhaps the most high profile being the contract to produce all the medals which was awarded to the Royal Mint, Llantrisant. In addition, there was the income generated from 11 Olympic football matches being held in Wales’ own Olympic host venue city, Cardiff – which attracted nearly 350,000 spectators to the Millennium Stadium – the majority from outside Wales; the Welsh Government engaged with the process to secure direct business opportunities out of preparations for the Games at the earliest opportunity. Working with partners and directly with businesses, we encouraged companies to register for Olympic contracts and for other business opportunities linked to the event. As a result of this process, 69 Welsh businesses won Olympic-related contracts, gaining valuable experience and new business contracts to help inform future potential work, as a result. As an outcome of the football itself, Cardiff was profiled to the world as an outstanding major event host city, with the Olympic rings outside Cardiff City Hall providing the focus for the region’s Olympic status. The business engagement opportunities offered by the fixtures themselves were exploited appropriately and I, myself, hosted a box at the stadium for key business contacts at the men’s quarter final match in order to make the most of opportunities offered by the staging of such a high profile occasion.