“With an expected television audience of 1.5 billion people worldwide, it is vital the broadcast is provided by an organization with exceptional expertise and experience,” Mr Hinchliffe said to the press gathering after officially opening the Global Headquarters of the Host Broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast 2018.
The Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Mr. Stirling Hinchliffe congratulated the Host Broadcaster NEP Australia on the occasion and welcomed the opportunities HB would provide, including valuable work-experience and training for university students, and jobs for local industry professionals.
The event also had the presence of Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman Peter Beattie AC, and CEO Mark Peters; NEP Australia President Soames Treffry; Seven West Media’s, Event Director – Rio Olympics, Commonwealth Games and Chief Revenue Officer, Kurt Burnette and Seven Network’s Head of Sport, Saul Shtein; sports commentator and Olympian Giaan Rooney OAM, other than the minister who did the opening.
NEP Australia team currently has 20 members team, comprising the key management group and broadcast training manager, two venue-planning teams and administrative staff which is expected to expand to a Games-time workforce of more than 1,200.
Speaking further on the occasion, the minister said,“This is a great example of a unique industry coming to Queensland because of the Games and I am delighted their team will call the Gold Coast home for the next two years.”
NEP Australia, will take support of production partners the Seven Network (Seven) and Sunset+Vine (S+V), to produce HD multi-camera television coverage of the major sporting event (with the Opening Ceremony also to be produced in 4K Ultra HD) for delivery to rights-holding broadcasters across the globe.
Speaking about the association and the new headquarters, GOLDOC Chairman Peter Beattie C asaid, “This office opening represents a very tangible legacy for the Gold Coast and Queensland that is a direct outcome of the Games.
“We look forward to sharing the exciting journey towards 2018 with the NEP Australia team,” Mr Beattie further added.
Speaking on the occasion, NEP Australia President, Soames Treffry said: “As our previous Commonwealth Games experience has shown, detailed forward planning is key to getting a project of this complexity off to a flying start. We hit the ground running, with our core team in place more than two years from the Gold Coast 2018 Opening Ceremony.”
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will be held from April 4-15, 2018 and will have 18 sports viz. Athletics, Aquatics, Badminton, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Triathlon, Weightlifting and Wrestling.