|
Sussex
Field Goes Global! |
A
field in Hickstead is an unlikely site for global communications,
but, as journalists from around the world gather there to report
on the European Dressage Championships, high tech preparations are
under way to ensure the news gets out!
It is the first time in sixteen years these Championships have been
held in Great Britain, and at the centre of the communications infrastructure
is Cavendish Communications. A local telecommunications firm based
in Newhaven, their equipment and expertise will allow journalists
from around the world to file copy and pictures without leaving
the showground. Visiting media representatives using both digital
and analogue equipment will be able to take advantage of the latest
in technology. Although basic facilities such as telephone lines,
electricity and water are laid on to the site, everything else including
the computers, handsets, fax machines and related equipment has
to be brought in, installed and linked up to the high speed ISDN
lines and the outside world. Nearly 100 man hours and 700 meters
of cable will be used in setting up the press office alone.
Sponsorship Manager, Barbara Ehlers, from British Masters GB Ltd
who are running the Championships comments "These days sponsorship
from companies such as Cavendish Communications is at the heart
of sporting events at every level, world-wide. We are delighted
they have chosen to support dressage, not only at this high profile,
international event, but also throughout the year at national and
local levels. As an expanding, forward-thinking company boasting
an excellent track record within the telecommunications industry,
their equipment and technical expertise ensures we will able to
meet the needs of the many national and international journalists
attending this event."
Dave Rogers, Sales Director of Cavendish Communications, and Barbara
Ehlers, Sponsorship Manager for the European Dressage Championships
Competitors,
grooms and show support staff also benefit from modern technological
advances. They will be able to check emails and surf the net by
visiting the brilliant, innovative cyber café. Based in the
"Chow Tent", and sponsored by internet equine recruitment
consultants YardandGroom.com, the cyber café provides a free
opportunity to keep up with what's happening at home, whilst swapping
notes over a coffee with friends during a well earned break!
Live television coverage of the event is to be transmitted via satellite
up-link and will be broadcast across eleven countries, including
Holland, Germany, France, Spain and Italy as well as Russia, and
the USA. The BBC have said they will televise highlights of the
European Dressage Championships during their Sunday Grandstand programme
on 17th August, also featuring the British Jumping Derby, together
with an hour special covering the presentation of the four days
of dressage competitions. Options have also been picked up by satellite
sporting networks.
David Goldstrom, Chief Executive of Television in Europe Ltd, specialises
in the broadcasting of outside sporting events and will be in charge
of TV production at the European Dressage Championships. He comments,
"This is the first time we have covered dressage in this country
and we will have a crew of about twenty people on site, providing
approximately six hours of television coverage over the four days
of the competition. We provide live coverage of the events as they
happen, which can then be transmitted via satellite up-link anywhere
in the world."
Show Press Officer Rachael Holdsworth explains why it is so vital
to have good communication resources. "It is important that
we facilitate good reporting to ensure a high level of publicity
for the sport of dressage and for Britain's ability to host an event
of this calibre. Because this is a major sporting event, we will
have many more journalists, photographers and media representatives
from TV and Radio than usual. Modern sports' reporting requires
almost instant availability of news and pictures world-wide, and
thanks to the high level of technology we have on site, we will
be fully equipped and able to meet these demands."
More information about the Championships is available on the website
www.edc2003.com. Tickets are
available from Ticketmaster on 0870 0602328 (24 hours) and at all
Ticketmaster ticket centres nationwide. Book online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
For Group bookings call 08705 94 94 94 94.
.
|