What I Did For The Olympics

My duties in Athens were divided into 2 groups. Before the Games and during the Games.
Before the Games Scott Irwin and I along with our Greek friend, Vagelis, were charged with the task of pulling and connectorizing as much commentary cabling as possible. We were also suppose to install the VDF's, Venue Distribution Frames, that's where all the cross connecting and patching goes on for the commentary at a venue. And we were suppose to install the BCMX racks. This is the unit that is used to get all of our audio signals back to the IBC. On the right is a picture of part of the Commentary Control Room Room at Volos, a small Soccer venue, or Football, depending on where you're from.

We did do plenty cabling. However Scott and I also got involved in many other things we weren't expecting. Much more planning and managerial work for me and Scott got in on a lot more rack building and managing than he planned on. I should mention here that Scott was wonderful. He came with the idea of doing what he was told and left knowing many people did what he told them. He really stepped up to the plate. Athens and the Olympics owe him a big thank you.

This is the VDF and BCMX rack at Volos. A small soccer venue.
Once the Games got started my job was much simplier. All I had to do was make sure that the audio from 118 broadcast companies from all over the world got their audio. There was another group, somewhere over 100, that I was only responsible to make sure they were happy.As my boss says, "nuts and peanuts". These clients included but obviously weren't limited to NBC, Australia 7, the CBC (Canada), BBC (England), FT2/FT3 (France), Al Jezeera (Middle East somewhere). basically about anywhere on the globe you can think of. Yes, there were language barriers. Just ask my Greek students, who's English wasn't to bad, what it's like to communiacte with someone from Ireland or Saudi Arabia or Hong Kong and then relay to me what the problem is in detail.

The days were long and the stress was high but some how it is all worth it and it makes you feel good.


Here I am going over the day's Pre and Post Unilaterall schedule.
Front left to right in this picture you see one of our 12 CCU's at the stadium, me "punching down" the VDF and Scott Irwin building the CATV rack.


Me guarding my VDF from Boumis Miltiadis.