Our history

How it all began
The Christian community has been involved with the world’s major sporting events. for over 40 years. In the early years denominations and agencies mainly worked independently of each other.

Then in the 80’s and early 90’s a number of sports mission agencies helped the local churches develop partnerships. These made it possible for the churches to offer a wide range of officially sanctioned initiatives including – 

• Giving out water to the crowds
• Hosting athletes’ families
• Providing chaplains in the athletes’ villages
• Staging events with creative arts performers
• Contributing translators and literature resources

Then came More Than Gold
In the build up to the 1996 Atlanta Games an umbrella Christian agency, Quest Atlanta, saw the need for a uniting name and identity.

This would provide –

• A flag for faith-based outreach, hospitality and service without overstepping any denominational or doctrinal boundaries
• An interface between the sports event’s organising committee and the churches

As a result, the name ‘More Than Gold’ has been used by the Christian community since the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games for events including –

• Commonwealth Games
• Pan American Games
• All-Africa Games
• Indian Ocean Games
• Olympic Games and Paralympics 

This has led to the churches playing an ever increasing role in assisting the official local organising committee to implement programmes associated with the Games.

The origin of More Than Gold UK
A series of key events led to establishing More Than Gold in the UK.

• In July 2005 the world learned London was to be the host city for 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. And Christian Leaders throughout the UK started to discuss their response to this unprecedented opportunity
• In March 2006, a number of denominations and organisations met to discuss the establishment of More Than Gold as the key way to engage with the Games
• In January 2007, More Than Gold was launched at Westminster Central Hall. Those present included Lord Coe, Tessa Jowell MP, Archbishop Rowan Williams and Archbishop Cormack Murphy-O’Connor
• In 2008 More Than Gold was established as a Charitable Trust under the chairmanship of Lord Brian Mawhinney. With the CEO, David Willson, appointed later that year
• In 2009, the Executive Committee was established
• In July 2009, the vision was launched to over 300 leaders from denominations and organisations meeting at Wembley Stadium for the More Than Gold Engagement Conference