Charleston, WV - The Manahan Group, working closely with the city of Charleston and the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, served as the local public relations and sponsorship coordinator for the 2008 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) event. The seven-day contest, held in different venues throughout the Capital City, received unprecedented media coverage and generated the largest crowds in the WSM’s 31-year history.

“The WSM presented a lot of challenges,” said George Manahan, CEO, The Manahan Group. “The event consisted of seven days of competition, each at a different location in the city.”

The media coverage included stories in local, regional and national media, including CNN. Manahan says while the media coverage was significant, the real value of the WSM sponsorship comes later this year when the event airs on ESPN, the world’s sports broadcast leader.

“The city of Charleston and the state of West Virginia will be seen in millions of households throughout the world over the next year and beyond,” said Manahan. “We hope to use this exposure to promote Charleston and the region as a great place to hold events and visit.”

The Manahan Group is an advertising and public relations firm located in Charleston, West Virginia.