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News Stories and Events
from around the world:
Mourinho Makes it a Double
Jose Mourinho wrote his name into the history books as Diego Milito inspired Inter Milan to Champions League glory against Bayern Munich. Victory at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Statium means that Mourinho, who won the cup with Porto in 2004, becomes only the third man in history to win the Chapions League with two clubs.
As usual, on such an occassion, Gigawave HD wireless camera systems were there to record the moment.
Esteban Cambiasso (L) of Inter Milan celebrates their team's victory with Diego Milito at the end of the UEFA Champions League Final match between FC Bayern Muenchen and Inter Milan at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 22, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu , Madrid, Spain - May 2010 |
Czechs are Champs
The Czechs have returned to the top of the hockey world, in dramatic fashion, with a 2-1 victory over Russia to win this year's IIHF World Championship in Cologne. This is the first time in five years the Czech Republic have won the Championship and, in doing so, ended a 27-game Russian winning streak.
The atmosphere in the Lanxess Arena was frenetic and boisterous, with chanting, flag-brandishing Russian fans outnumbering their Czech counterparts. Despite the Russians being the favourite to win, the Czechs gained the advantage with smart, disciplined, vintage Czech counter-attacking hockey. It was a case of the underdogs, a team with just two 'name players' defeating some of the best players in the NHL.
Despite the low score, this turned out to be an intense, exciting battle between the two traditional rivals. When the Russians and Czechs clash, it's no longer politically charged as it was during the tense Communist years of the late 1960s and early 1970s. But the passion is still definitely there anytime there's a rematch of the 1998 Olympic final, which the Czechs won 1-0 in Nagano.
YLE Finland covered the IIHF World Ice Hockey Championships with their Gigawave HD Clip-on Wireless Camera Systems and their MDR Multi Channel Fibre Receiver System.
Lanxess Arena, Cologne, Germany - May 2010 |
A Credible Place in the Wiggle Enduro!
The 'Wiggle Enduro 6' was a first for the Police Sport UK Team and clearly illustrates the diversity of the PSUK team. It was also an introduction to long distance Mountain Biking for Team Manager, Carl Robinson. He managed a creditable 56 place after doing 8 laps of the six mile circuit during six hour event.
For the Women's Team, the 'Bedford 2 Day' was a race of mixed fortunes after one rider was taken ill mid-way through the Team Time Trial. This resulted in the PSUK Team finishing second last on the stage. What was even more frustrating was the fact that Claire Galloway finished sixth on all of the following three stages, an achievement that would have placed the PSUK Team high up in the general classification. Considering the problems, 13th overall was a fantastic result.
Catton Park, Derbyshire, UK - 01 May 2010 |
The Dragon Roars in Shanghai
In many ways, the opening ceremony of Expo 2010 rivalled that of the Beijing Olympics two years ago. It also represents the fulfilment of a century-old Chinese ambition to hold the World’s Fair in Shanghai. With 189 of the world’s 196 countries taking part Expo 2010 Shanghai reflects how the Middle Kingdom has moved from the ranks of the world’s envious to the envied.
If the Beijing Olympics marked the moment China asserted itself as a global power after decades of isolation, the Shanghai Expo represents the world’s acknowledgment of that new status, with developing countries in particular fighting an undeclared battle to show which among them is friendliest with this emerging superpower.
Just as Beijing did two years ago, this city of 20 million people has transformed itself for Expo. Some $59-billion was reportedly spent on the 5.3-square-kilometre site that spans both sides of the Huangpu , as well as new subway lines, a new airport terminal and an overhaul of the city’s signature Bund riverfront stroll.
At 63 metres high, the inverted crimson pyramid hangs over Shanghai's waterfront, dwarfing the 200 other newly built structures around it. Designed to resemble an ancient crown, the China Pavilion in the centre of the sprawling Expo 2010 grounds along the Huangpu River is very much the powerful host surrounded by rings of anxious-to-please guests.
Since Queen Victoria summoned the world to Hyde Park for first World’s Fair in 1851, Expos have repeatedly been used to herald the arrival of new forces on the international stage. The Eiffel Tower was built in Paris for the 1889 World’s Fair, and a trio of early 20th century exhibitions in the United States showcased the speed with which the U.S. was overtaking the conflict-ridden powers of Europe.
Expo 2010, Shanghai, China - 01 May 2010 |
Viewers Get Drivers' POV of New Circuit
After a spectacular start to the season as Yas Marina, it's fitting that the second race of this year's FIA GT1 World Championship should be held on the the new 'Arena' circuit at Silverstone. Although the new circuit was officially opened by HRH The Duke of York only three days before Sunday's big race, viewers will soon be getting to know the track thanks to Gigawave HD on-board camera systems installed in eight of the cars.
The multi-million revamp sees famous sections of the old Silverstone Grand Prix circuit, Bridge and Priory, completely removed and new sections added - Farm Curve, Village corner, The Loop, Aintree corner and Wellington Straight.
In an opening ceremony on Thursday, HRH The Duke of York was given a spin around the new track in a two-seater F1 car driven by BRDC President Damon Hill and Former F1 driver turned commentator David Coulthard also took to the track in a Red Bull F1 car.
"This is a very proud day for Silverstone Circuit and the BRDC," said Hill. "The new section of track and improvements made elsewhere to the circuit are fantastic. These changes provide not only a stunning new driving challenge but will also lead to an enhanced spectator experience and provide great flexibility in terms of the different layouts that we can now use."
The 'Arena' circuit, developed at a cost of £5 million, is just one part of Silverstone's redevelopment, which also includes upgrades for the track's Stowe circuit and a brand new pit and paddock complex scheduled to be opened in 2011.
The images hows Gigawave engineer, Dave Walker, supervising the 'Fly-away' receive system used by Gigawave for the FIA GT1 World Championship.
Silverstone Circuit, United Kingdom - May 2010 |
Marathon Man
After plumes of volcanic ash led to unprecedented travel chaos, the organisers of the Virgin London Marathon have spent over $200,000 chartering private planes to get competitors like Sammy Wanjiru, the defending champion, to the UK in time for Sunday's race . No such problems for Sam Wolton, a Gigawave employee, who will be travelling to London by coach from his Essex home.
Sam has run in a total of six marathons and this will be his 4th London maration. His plan is to raise money for Essex Air Ambulance who, like Gigawave, are based on the Earls Colne Business Park.
The Essex Air Ambulance was launched in 1998 to serve the people of Essex. The specially equipped EC135 helicopter, which carries a highly skilled crew of doctors and paramedics and life-saving equipment is designed to reach a patient within the first few vital minutes of an emergency.
To date, the Essex Air Ambulance, a registered charity, has flown over 10,000 missions. However,
it costs around £250,000 per month to cover operational and other costs.
The Charity receives no National Lottery funding, relying on charitable donations and the efforts of people like Sam Wolton to keep the aircraft flying.
In order to prepare for the London Marathon, Sam trains five days a week. His best time, to date, is 3hrs 33mins, but he is hoping to run this year's Marathon in under three hours. When not out training, he works as a Mechanical Assembler in the Gigawave Production Department.
Earls Colne Business Park, Essex, UK - April 2010 |
The Start of a New Era for Sportscar Racing
A full programme of entertainment will run alongside the racing at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi when it hosts the first race of the brand new FIA GT1 World Championship series. Twenty-four cars from Nissan, Corvette, Maserati, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and Ford will take part in the two day event in what is being called the "Battle of the Brands".
Six of the world's most iconic sportscar brands will compete in the first round of the series, driven by some of the world's top drivers, including former Formula 1 drivers Mika Salo, Karl Wendlinger and Roman Grosjean.
Gigawave are providing digital on-board camera facilities for the entire season. We will be bringing you more information as the season progresses. More
Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE - April 2010 |
Superleague Formula Season Gets Underway
Craig Dolby took Silverstone by storm to hand Tottenham Hotspur SF a near-perfect start in Superleague Formula 2010.He showed exactly why he's the most talked about driver in the football-themed championship by winning the first race of Round One, racing from the back of the grid to fourth in race two and then taking the £100,000 'Super Final'.
Jersey's James Walker, driving for Liverpool FC, suffered a disappointing start to the 2010 Superleague Formula season, failing to finish either of his first two races. Walker started third on the grid in the first race at Silverstone on Sunday, but spun off in wet conditions.In the second race Walker started from pole position, but an engine problem at a pit stop ended his race early.
For the Gigawave team, responsible for the On-board cameras installed on each of the 18 entries, the season got off to a good start. The team provide the host broadcaster, Endermol Sport, with six simultaneous on-board camera channels plus on-screen graphics based on real-time telemetry data. More
Silverstone Circuit, England - April 2010 |
Gigawave Invited to the Event of the Year!
Billed as the highlight of the UAE sporting and social calendar, The '7th Dubai International Racing Carnival' was an impressive event, even by Dubai standards. The day’s events included a spectacular opening ceremony for the $1 Billion Maydan Racecourse complex as well as the $10 Million Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race. It was won by French-trained Gloria De Campeao in a dramatic photo finish.
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Horse racing in Dubai has come a long way since it started on a dusty camel track three decades ago. Today, the total prize money for the Dubai World Cup race meeting is more than $26m. It's a lucrative event for racehorse owners and attracts the world's best trainers and jockeys.
For their live coverage of the event of the year, Dubai TV once again chose Gigawave digital HD microwave links, including two D-Cam 'Clip-on' wireless camera systems with LDK 8000 backs. One of these was used in conjunction with a Steadicam rig. Both were used extensively in the VIP Enclosure, parade ring and other area.
As with previous years, Dubai TV used a tracking vehicle and a Bell 412 helicopter, both equipped with Cineflex gyro-stabilised HD cameras. Gigawave digital links were used in both instances to transmit images to diversity receivers located in the spectacular Maydan grandstand.
In addition to other facilities, Dubai TV used a number of specialty cameras to provide viewers with images in and around the starting gate. All of these cameras were linked back to the grandstand using Gigawave digital links.
Finally, Four MVL-HD2 digital HD links were used to transmit the programme feeds from the two OB Trucks used to cover the event back to Master Control at Dubai TV.
Out of interest, the spectacular Opening Ceremony, together with a concert, featuring Elton John and Carlos Santana, was produced by M-is, using CTV. OB facilities were provided by Abu Dhabi based Live HD, who used four D-Cam 'Clip-on' wireless camera systems with LDK 6000 backs.
In many ways Meydan is a statement of how serious Dubai is about horse racing, and a sign of defiance in the midst of a property crash. It cost more than $1bn to build. But watch out for 'Maydan Phoenix City', a joint venture between the Maydan Group and other investors to build a $4 Billion race course complex in China!
Maydan City, Dubai, UAE - March 2010 |
Rampant Samoa Win Hong Kong Sevens
Gigawave D-Cam 'Clip-on' wireless camera systems were busy providing live crowd reactions shots from the terraces of the Hong Kong Stadium as Samoa won their third successive IRB Sevens Cup title of the season to lead the World Series for the first time.
Samoa defeated New Zealand 24-21 in the final of a superb Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens to clinch their second title here and their third successive IRB Sevens World Series Cup crown.
In doing so the islanders take a first ever lead in the World Series, three points clear of New Zealand heading into the final two events, in London and Edinburgh in May. More
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong SAR - March 2010 |
IPL3 - A Big Hit!
Now in its third season, the Indian Premier League season (better known locally as IPL 3) is expected to have a television audience of more than 200 million people in India, alone. It is also the first ever cricket tournament to be broadcast live on YouTube. The final four Matches will be screened in Movie halls accross India in 3D.
UK facilities company, SiS Live, have supplied Zoom Communications 12 Gigawave D-Cam 'Clip-On' wireless camera transmitters with Gigawave LDK Data camera backs plus four flyaway MDR receiver systems. These have been split up into four systems, each operating three separate wireless cameras. More
Mumbai, India - March 2010 |
MotoGP goes HD for 2010 Season
MotoGP fans around the world will be able to view their favourite sport in the most incredible clarity in 2010, as the world's premier motorcycle championship will broadcast in full HD for the first time. Whilst much of the track action over the last year has already been filmed by High Definition cameras, this is the first time that viewers at home will be able to experience the crisp quality of HD when watching the MotoGP race action.
HD has become a standard now for top level sports, and MotoGP is no exception. However, covering up to six kilometres of track, seventeen race bikes, the pit garages and helicopter shots with HD cameras has required years of planning and preparation from series organiser Dorna Sports.The biggest challenge has been the on board cameras, Dorna together with Gigawave are working to develop these extremely sophisticated cameras.
"Working alongside the most recognised sports broadcasters worldwide and being one of the leading motorsports championships, we have a duty to stay abreast of all the emerging technologies which help us to capture the speed and adrenaline of MotoGP" said Manel Arroyo, Managing Director of Dorna.
3D
In an exciting development, the evolution of the delivery of MotoGP in even more lifelike quality may not stop at HD. With 3D cinematography already being successfully pioneered in the world of cinema, the same technology is now poised to revolutionise sports broadcasting. Last year at the Red Bull US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca and in conjunction with the 3D and digital systems specialists Vince Pace, Dorna Sports carried out a successful trial of the latest HD 3D Fusion camera systems.
For 2010 the Pace team, led by John Bruno who was part of the Visual Effects team involved in the Academy Award winning Avatar film, plans to produce a documentary. This will feature images captured during the MotoGP season, and channels broadcasting in 3D such as ESPN and Sky have already shown interest in broadcasting such coverage of the sport.
motoGP Press Release - March 2010 |
Cabsat Mena "The Best Ever!"
"This has been the best ever Cabsat", commented Gigawave's Sales and Marketing Director, John Rolfe as he and his colleague, Mike Phillips packed up after the show.
"Apart from there being more visitors to the Gigawave booth than 2009, the quality of enquiries was well up on last year, suggesting an air of optimism in the region. I am absolutely delighted and certain that, over the next few months, we will convert many of these enquiries into orders" - John Rolfe
Mile Phillips, echoed John Rolfe's comments, "This year we had a constant stream of system integrators coming and talking to us about this project and that event. Afterwards, we would get the real decision makers coming onto the booth to talk to us about the same projects. As John said, there was a genuine feeling of optimism amongst visitors to the Gigawave booth at Cabsat 2010."
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre - March 2010 |
HD On-board Cameras - The Way Forward
On-board camera systems have come a long way in the past 25 years thanks to enormous advances in camera technology. Likewise, the advent of digital microwave links has tranformed the way POV and other images are transmitted and received. The next big step is the transition to HD and, yet again, Gigawave is leading the way.
Traditionally, Gigawave have specialised in the design and manufacture of the RF aspect of on-board camera systems but have recently developed their own HD camera specially designed for installation in GT cars. Attached to the roll-cage, the camera provides viewers with the drivers POV (point of view). However, Gigawave engineers have mounted the same camera on a remotely controlled pan and tilt head.
Mounted where the passenger would normally sit, the camera can be used to provide shots of the car's interior and the driver. It can also be used to overtaking manouvers and other shots involving other cars.
According the Gigawave Chairman, Henry Barczynski, "We developed the camera as part of our ongoing development programme after we found we could not purchase a commercially available product that would do what we wanted to do."
The new HD camera was exhaustively tested last season together with Gigawave's latest digital HD microwave links and is ready for the start of the 2010 season. The next challenge for Gigawave engineers is a 3D version of their on-board camera!
Gigawave Technical Centre - February 2010 |
Meydan Racecourse Boasts Giant 110m Screen
It cost $2.7 Billion to build. has two racecourses , a 290 room-with-a view luxury hotel, and a marina. Meydan also features a spectacular 1.2 kilometre grandstand where up to 60,000 spectators can to watch the action in comfort on a huge, 110 metre long, video display.
Dubai Media International have been using Gigawave microwave technology to cover the 'Dubai World Cup' and other events at the old Nad Al Sheba racecourse for several years. With the opening of Meydan, this is the first time spectators have been able to watch live coverage of races on such a large screen.
Transmitted from a gyro-stabilised camera mounted on a Land Rover 'Discovery' (see extreme right of image), digital HD images are beamed to a diversity receiver in the grandstand. From here, the live images are routed to the Dubai Media International high-definition OB truck. Gigawave HD wireless cameras are also used to cover the parade ring, and VIP Enclosure, whilst Sunset and Vine used a Gigawave wireless camera to enhance their world feed coverage.
Apart from the production aaspects, Gigawave MVL-HD2 links were used to transmit the programme feed from Meydan to Dubai Media International's Master Control.
Dubai, UAE - February 2010 |
Federer 'Awsome' Down Under in HD
An 'awsome' Roger Federer marched his way into the quarter-finals of the 2010 Australian Open with a thumping straight sets win over Lleyton Hewitt. He will face Nikolay Davydenko in the quarter finals.
Equally 'awsome' was the live coverage of this year's Open, for those lucky enough to be viewing the tournament in HD.
Seven Sport, the host broadcaster for the Australian Open, is using five Gigawave HD radio cameras operating in total (including a 'beauty cam') plus five Gigawave MVL-HD2 high speed HD OB links. Three of the MVL-HD2s were supplied by BnC, an Australian facilities company, with the other two being supplied by Seven Sport.
Melbourne, Australia - January 2010 |
Dubai Media's HD 'Clip-ons' have 'Altitude'
Following a recent upgrade of two of their D-Cam 'Clip-on' Wireless Camera Systems to HD, Dubai Media International used them up on level 154 for the official opening of the Burj Khalifa by the Ruler of Dubai,Sheikh Mohamed.
At over 800 metres (2625 feet) and around 300 metres (!))) feet) taller than its nearest rival, the Burj Khalifa is the World's tallest building - roughly twice as high as the Empire State Building. It cost $1.5 Billion to build and forms the centrepiece of the $20 Billion 'Downtown Dubai' development.
The tower also lays claim to the highest occupied floor, the tallest service lift, and the world's highest observation deck - on the 124th floor. Ultimately, levels 152 - 154 will be the Chairman's office. Above this, floors 157-160 have been allocated to broadcasters and telecoms companies for the installation of communications and ancillary equipment.
As part of Dubai Media International's live coverage of the spectacular opening ceremony positioned two 'Clip-on' HD systems up on the 150th floor, the highest commercial real estate in the World. Other Gigawave wireless camera systems were used alongside conventional cameras to provide four HD OB trucks with live images. These included two systems rented in from UK rental specialist, Broadcast RF. A recently acquired Gigawave digital HD downlink system was also used to to provide beauty shots of the Burj Khalifa and downtown Dubai from a Cineflex HD equipped helicopter.
Dubai, UAE - January 2010 |
On-site Training for Bahrain TV Engineers
Faced with stiff competition, Bahrain Radio & TV recently awarded Gigawave a contract to supply MVL-HD2 dual-channel point-to-point high-definition links. The links will be used in conjunction with Bahrain TV's new HD OB Truck for live coverage of the Bahrain Air Show, later this month.
As part of the contract, Gigawave provided an on-site training course for Bahrain Radio & TV engineers on the dual-channel MVL-HD2 System. This was well received by the engineers who are already familiar with Gigawave products.
Bahrain TV has been using Gigawave microwave links for a number of years and appreciate their reliability and performance. One reason why this particular contract was awarded to Gigawave.
Bahrain - January 2010 |
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