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2003
European Dressage Championships
Sussex Field Goes Global
July 22, 2003
 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."
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."
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2003
European Championships
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