As time winds down to the hosting of the grandest sporting event to ever be held in The Bahamas, the technology is in place, Event Media Services is ready to accommodate over 100 journalists, and all additional aspects of the world relays appear on target.
The Bahamas is preparing to welcome the world again. Over 1,000 athletes, coaches and officials from about 50 countries are expected in town for the second running of the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) World Relay Championships, set for this weekend, May 2 and 3 at the 15,000-seat Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. In fact, a number of participating nations are already here, starting with the arrival of Belgium, Brazil, Hong Kong and Switzerland on Sunday. Portugal was among the nations which arrived yesterday.
Additionally, the host broadcaster, International Sports Broadcasting (ISB) is here with over $13 million worth of equipment. They have 25 cameras installed throughout the stadium, about five miles of cable on the ground, two OB (Outside Broadcast) vans on the exterior of the stadium, and one satellite uplink van, just to name a few.
IAAF partner Canon is here as well, and will be responsible for the meet management of the event, i.e. starts lists and results. Also, Canon will be installing over 100 Computer Information Systems (CIS) units, particularly for the media tribune inside the stadium. Seiko, another IAAF partner, was scheduled to have their people in town yesterday evening, and they'll be responsible for the timing and photo finishes. The Hawkeye system will be for footage review, and will be utilized in cases of various lane infractions.
"All lights are green," said Trevor Moss, regarding the technology plan for the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015. "The press center and the media tribunes are up and running, the accreditation office is open, the IAAF offices are functional, the stadium infield and track itself is ready.... we are set to go."
Moss said that the main system inside the stadium was expected to be up and running yesterday afternoon, and a number of local companies have been engaged for various technological requirements as well.
"There will be a clear and honorable sound which will allow for the Bahamian experience and flavor of this event," he said. "We intend to come out and give the world a Bahamian thing again. Also, there will be additional visual effects for patrons and team officials inside the stadium. The hotels are equipped and ready. There is an electronic system at the hotels that provide bus schedules and other vital information, and for the first time, there will be real time footage from the stadium at the hotels. It's all a part of the Bahamian experience that this event will create."
Gates open at 3 p.m. each day of competition, with the junior segment starting at 5 p.m. and the main show getting underway at 7 p.m. each day. Provided they qualify for the final, The Bahamas' "Golden Knights" will open and close the meet, with the heats of the men's 4x400 meters (m) as the first event on Saturday evening, and the final of that event as the last event on Sunday evening.
The color code for Bahamians is "black" on T-shirt day on Friday, "aqua" on Saturday, and "gold" signifying the gold rush on Sunday. T-shirts and other merchandise can be obtained from the Thomas A. Robinson stadium each day this week, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Also, persons who have not yet purchased their tickers need not worry. Additional bleachers have been installed, just like a year ago, and those ticket prices will start at $25. Tickets can be obtained online at www.bahamasworldrelays.org or at the box office at the national stadium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. up until Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
"We're asking Bahamians to come out and bring their whistles, horns and cowbells," said IAAF Council Member, Bahamian Pauline Davis-Thompson yesterday. "A number of top athletes from around the world will be here. The United States, our neighbors, are coming to win the 'Golden Baton' again.
"The big man (Usain Bolt) and Jamaica are coming. Bolt wants to be a legend, so he is coming here to do what he has to do. Our mascot Bingo, the lovable, kissable dog will be there and he will be in the kids corner where there will be a simulated track and other amenities for the kids. We're asking everyone to come out early and get seated early because the events will start on time. We're looking forward to another 'Bahamazing' event."
Director of Event Media Services Tonique Williams said that her department is ready to deliver services to the many journalists in a timely and efficient manner. A total of 107 journalists, inclusive of written press and photographers, have registered for this global event. International journalists, about 90 in total, started arriving from Monday.
"The media is the outlet that gave this event the name 'Bahamazing' last year," said Williams. "We really depend on them to help us push this event so it's imperative that we provide the services that they would require. We're thankful for them. Last year, we saw where this event was broadcasted in 161 countries around the world, and this year, it should have the same or an even greater reach."
Williams said that two of the more popular teams, the United States and Jamaica, will arrive in the country later in the week - Jamaica, a 44-member squad including Bolt on Thursday, and the U.S. at different times throughout the week. The full 28-member Bahamian team is expected to be here in the capital by Wednesday.
As far as the media is concerned, about 36 agencies from 12 countries will be represented. Popular news agencies such as the Associated Press, Reuters, FloTrack and Getty Images will be here for the global event. A total of 16 news agencies are coming out of the United states alone, and 10 have registered locally. The official media hotels are Comfort Suites and Club Land'or on Paradise Island.
"We're confident that we can set up and build on what we created last year," said IAAF press delegate Stefan Thies. "The IT (Information Technology) services are professionally reliable, and will be available to all media. This year, the photographers will be able to send photos directly from the infield area, so they can take their laptops out there on the field and send their photos to their various agencies around the world.
"I have a lot of interest in the emotional aspect of this event. If the crowd can produce a similar atmosphere to last year, I think that it will be grand again. This was a brand new experience for everyone last year, where athletes were carried around the track by the noise and the emotion of the fans and the junkanoo. We expect the same thing to happen this year, so let there be noise."
There are now just four days remaining until the staging of the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2015.
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