IAAF World Championships 2017 host broadcaster workshop takes place in London

A two-day workshop has been completed at the Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as part of the crucial planning of the host broadcast of next year’s IAAF World Championships London 2017.

The workshop marks the first major activity following the appointment of Sunset+Vine, the multi-award winning UK independent TV sports production and media company, part of The Tinopolis Group, and FilmNova, the TV production arm of The Great Run Company, who specialize in production of athletics and road racing.  The workshop covered detailed planning for infrastructure, sound, camera platforms and more than 140 commentary positions.

The companies won the contract earlier this year following an open tender process carried out using standard UKA procurement protocols. Under the terms of the Host Broadcaster agreement the two companies will provide production of track and field events in the Olympic stadium and road races around the streets of London, as well as build an International Broadcast Centre for more than 50 rights holding broadcasters who will be present at the Championships. The 10-day event will be transmitted to virtually every country in the world.

Jeff Foulser, chairman of Sunset+Vine said: “Sunset+Vine and FilmNova are delighted to be working with UKA and the IAAF on such a prestigious event, the biggest in the Olympic stadium since London 2012. We have assembled a high quality production team, most of whom delivered the hugely successful Commonwealth Games athletics coverage in Glasgow in 2014. We look forward to showcasing the event to billions of athletics fans around the world.”

Cherry Alexander, managing director of London 2017, said: “It is important that the quality and skill of the athletes’ performances as well as the atmosphere and excitement generated in the stadium are successfully replicated in people’s homes across the world.  We know from their experience at previous events that Sunset+Vine and FilmNova will deliver the very best coverage possible and we look forward to working with them.”

London 2017 will be the first time that both the World ParaAthletics Championships and the IAAF World Championships are held in the same city in the same summer. The World ParaAthletics Championships takes place from 14 – 23 July with the IAAF World Championships London 2017 following from 4 – 13 August 2017, both at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The host broadcaster contract for the World ParaAthletics will be awarded in due course.