The set-up is unique for a FIS World Cup™ event, with separate men’s and ladies’ courses on opposite sides of the same mountain, creating the specific logistical challenge of changing between courses on a daily basis.  

20 cameras will be used on the downhill races - including super-slow-motion - and a Jimmy Jib crane will be implemented for all races. Over 60 people will be involved in the actual production, for a two-week period, the production planning phase having taken four months to finalise.  

The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Whistler is actually the first large-scale event during which strong synergies are being developed between Infront’s Winter Sports division, in charge of handling the broadcast rights, Infront Production that usually implements the European ski production deliverables – covering 24 FIS World Cup events per year – and HBS, best known for its FIFA World Cup™ host broadcasts in Korea/Japan, Germany and presently in South Africa, the 32nd America’s Cup host coverage in Spain and the Asian Games host broadcast operations in Qatar.  

During the Whistler event Infront Production and HBS will be working closely with Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA) and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) to monitor the results of the various innovative solutions that are being put forward and to ensure the success of the television deliverables in Whistler in 2008, just two years prior to the 2010 Olympic Games in Canada.  

About Infront’s Production Services Division

The Infront Group’s Production Services Division – headed by Francis Tellier – is structured into two divisions, Host Broadcast Services (HBS – CEO, Francis Tellier) and Infront Production (managed by Peter Angell). It operates at a very sophisticated level thanks to the experience of HBS. The group’s dedicated, independent host broadcast specialist is best known for host broadcasting the FIFA World Cup™ and being the first company to originate this broadcast entirely in High-Definition (HD) format. HBS also consults on other major sports events across the world. Infront Production focuses on production-led projects, working on shorter time scales where a smaller infrastructure is required.

For further information, please contact:  

Jörg Polzer

Manager, Communication & PR

Infront Sports & Media AG

Tel. +41-41-723 15 15

Fax +41-41-723 15 16

press infrontsports.com

www.infrontsports.com

Nicola Taylor

Director Communication

Host Broadcast Services (HBS)

Tel. +33-1-55 19 20 08

Fax +33-1 5519 20 03

info hbs.tv

www.hbs.tv