30 l July 2014
www.psneurope.com
broadcast A
SPORTING EVENTS such as the Commonwealth Games are very much a visual spectacular – and, for that reason, the audio side of the various activities that will take place in Glasgow in July have often not received the close scrutiny they deserve. But that doesn’t make the work of those involved in bringing the all-important sound of the games to TV and radio audiences any less necessary. The 20th (XX) Commonwealth Games, starting on 23 July and running until 3 August, will encompass 26 sporting disciplines in 19 venues in and around the Glasgow area. In addition, 22 parasport medal events will take place – more than at any previous Commonwealth Games. The audio and video presentations at each venue
sound plan for
Philip Stevens reports on the operation needed to bring specialist audio coverage to the upcoming Commonwealth Games
are the responsibility of Venue Technology Services (VTS), with one of the contracts overseen by VTS also involving audio production company Sports Technology. The broadcast side of the coverage will be handled by a joint company formed by London-based Sunset+Vine and Australian production company Global Television. “VTS is one of the six core areas that make up the technology and broadcast division, answering directly to the chief information offi cer,” explains Rob Hunt, general manager of Venue Technology Services. “We look after the planning, implementation and operation of venue-based technology, equipment and services for both competition and non- competition venues.
Glasgow
“VTS is also responsible for partner and supplier management of […] audio systems, AV equipment, data cabling and other miscellaneous technology required at each venue. In addition, at games time, VTS manages the local venue service desks and radio distribution rooms [which are] staffed by a technology volunteer workforce.” To meet this extensive brief, the team at VTS comprises a diverse range of expertise, such as event management, project management,
telecommunications, network,
broadcast and audiovisual skills. In addition, VTS takes technical advice from experts within other areas of the technology and broadcast
department, partners and contractors.
FOUR YEARS OF PLANNING Hunt states that the overarching VTS strategy, scope of works and preliminary budgets were developed in 2010. At the end of 2011, a process began that included venue audits and the development of the tools to capture and validate these requirements for all competition and non-competition venues. The result of this work was used as the foundation for all VTS tender scopes.
Gold medal-winning boxer Nicola Adams, MBE, and mascot Clyde (he’s a “cheeky wee thistle,” apparently)
An artist’s impression of football stadium Hampden Park as it will appear during an athletics event at Glasgow 2014
Hunt goes on: “When it came down to the audio overlay tender, potential suppliers were asked to provide full end-to- end delivery and operational support of a variety of services including public address, audio presentation, sport- specifi c audio systems and media systems. They were also required to provide appropriate
support at the planning and operational stages to ensure audio services are delivered to meet standards consistent with an international event such as the Commonwealth Games.” VTS went to market with a ‘lot’-based approach, giving potential suppliers the option to bid for the audio overlay or video overlay contracts – or both. In order to conduct a fair and transparent procurement process, and to avoid excluding any potential suppliers, VTS did not specify particular types of equipment. However, high-level
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