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Community spirit at the 2010 Winter Games

The splendidly named Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Center is one of many Olympic venues to feature Community Pro loudspeaker systems, writes David Davies.

The splendidly named Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Center is one of many Olympic venues to feature Community Pro loudspeaker systems, writes David Davies. Clear-Com, Digigram and Lawo were among the other audio suppliers whose equipment served broadcasters and other service providers during last month’s Winter Olympics.

Olympic visitors could see Community Pro loudspeakers in many host venues, including: compact ENTASYS three-way, full-range column line arrays in the Speed Skating Oval; R.5 full-range, all-weather systems in the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports facility; iBOX IHP1596 two-way loudspeakers at The Trout Lake Ice Rink and Killarney Community Centre; R1, R.5 and R2 loudspeakers at the Richmond O Zone; and iBOX IHP1200 Series and CLOUD12 loudspeakers at the West Vancouver Spirit Square Community Centre.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Olympic Centre/Vancouver Paralympic Centre is to be fitted with a new permanent system of Community R1, CLOUD6 and CLOUD12 loudspeakers during forthcoming post-Olympic conversion work.

Julia Lee, Community’s director of marketing and sales, told IE: “It’s always an honour to be associated with the Olympic Games. Olympic venues are naturally the most prestigious athletic showcase venues in the world, with the architecturally and technologically innovative stadiums of the Vancouver games being no different. While Community R-Series has been an outdoor stadium standard for many years, we are pleased that our ENTASYS, iBOX and CLOUD loudspeakers were also chosen by Vancouver contractors to counter many of the special acoustical challenges presented by the winter sports arenas.”

But Community was by no means the only supplier to enjoy a high-profile showcase during the Winter Olympics. In addition to the Christie (click here for more http://www.installationeurope.com/main-content/full/christie-at-vancouver-emergency-centre) and Crestron (more here http://www.installationeurope.com/main-content/full/crestron-s-massive-winter-olympics-role) solutions previously covered, Clear-Com’s Hybrid Network (Hybrid Time-Division Multiplexing [TDM] Matrix/IP Server Intercom Network) was employed for intercom duties during the opening and closing ceremonies at Vancouver’s BC Place, as well as other events at the IBC (International Broadcast Center) and the Whistler Celebration Plaza. Digigram’s recently launched 1.0 IQOYA V*MOTE audio-over-IP codec with SIP software was utilised by Republic of Croatia national public broadcaster HRT, while four Fairlight Xynergi systems delivered audio and master time code for Australian production company David Atkins Enterprises during the two ceremonies that bookended the Winter Games. Signiant, meanwhile, partnered with broadcaster NBC to deliver coverage of the Games to Microsoft Corp’s facilities for viewing online in its Microsoft Silverlight player.

Elsewhere, Lawo reports that more than 50 of its systems (consoles and routers) were deployed by broadcasters and service providers. German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF used Lawo mc²56, mc²66 and mc²90 consoles, as well as crystal desks and Nova73 HD routers. Belgian TV service provider Alfacam made use of nine mc²66-equipped OB vans, while Canadian national broadcaster CTV employed 12 Lawo systems during the two-week sportsfest. Finland’s YLE, Sweden’s SVT and China’s CCTV also incorporated Lawo systems into their Olympic specs, while rental companies Gearhouse and Presteigne Charter supported their customers in Canada with multiple Lawo consoles. Lawo rental partner Audio Broadcast Services also provided a large number of consoles, routers and additional Lawo equipment.