Fast Track had been contracted by the IAAF to stage manage the prestigious three-day event, and their production manager, Bob Capel, was soon in conversation with Avesco’s business development manager, Dave Crump, discussing ways in which the somewhat antiquated scoreboard technology might be improved. Crump called LED display manufacturers (and Screenco suppliers) Unitek. They debated the feasibility of a colour LED screen being developed to interface with sports information technology company, Deltatre (who provided the real-time results service), and event timing contractors, Seiko.
Unitek, in partnership with Technographic Displays, provided the hardware, software and personnel for the creation of the large central 32sq.m banner screen, which formed the core of the graphic display. This screen was driven by the Activ Processor, which provided the clarity and sharpness of text and graphics that enabled the messages and media to be viewed from all around the stadium. The Banner system also provided a hugely improved format for scoreboard applications, with combined text, graphics, animations, transition effects and video clips. In other words, the data from D3s results service could be streamed in, along with scoreboard information and event line-ups, all in full colour.
Dave Crump commented: "The presentation was way superior to anything we’ve seen before. Rather than input the text as a video signal we were addressing the screen on a pixel by pixel basis - the difference in character generation quality was just phenomenal."
The graphic display was combined within two outflanking 40sq.m 25mm LED screens - taking feeds from live presenters and camera crews on the field while the other was relaying live action from the track. The three display units formed one seamless display measuring around 120sq.m (in a 23m wide x 4.8m high configuration). This created a focal point which curved around the contour of the track at one end of the NIA. Despite the light weight of the Unitek chassis, the central screen had to be reinforced on a scaffold base, as the loading on the roof trusses was exceeded.
CT Outside Broadcast, as sister company of Screenco, also fielded an OB truck, taking feeds from the BBC and outputting two independent programme outputs to the screens. Three dedicated cameras were employed (two on roving RF links and one on a 55 lens) and Sony EVS hard disk playback device, sub-hired from yet another Avesco group company, Presteigne Broadcast Hire.
The World Indoor Championships was the third in a series of major athletics events included in the package, and followed the recent AAA Grand Prix and UK trials - both held at the NIA during February and early March.
(Lee Baldock)
