ABU plays key media role at Incheon Asian Games

The ABU has launched one of its biggest media assignments with coverage of the 17th Asian Games at Incheon in South Korea.

The Union is supplying rights management and technical support for 18 member broadcasters covering the event from 19 September to 4 October 2014. Officially known as the XVII Asiad, the Games are the largest sporting event in Asia governed by Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

The ABU has negotiated broadcasting rights for 18 members including KRT in North Korea, and plays a crucial role at Incheon, liaising on behalf of members and arranging accreditation, accommodation and office space and supplying administrative and technical support to members. 

The Union also undertakes the distribution of international signals and commentary in English to rights-holding broadcasters as well as the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee (IAGOC).

The ABU has more than 20 people working in Incheon in areas such as engineering and commentary, including four staff from the secretariat.

Early coverage included the arrival of the 17th Asian Games Torch in Incheon after a 36-day tour through some seventeen cities in South Korea in time for the opening ceremony at the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. The torch was lit last month in New Delhi, the very first city to host the Asian Games in 1951.

This year’s games will be the third in South Korea, after Seoul in 1986 and Busan in 2002. All 45 members of the Olympic Council of Asia, including North Korea, will participate. Athletes will be competing for a total of 439 gold medals in 36 events. Almost 14,000 athletes and officials plus more than 9,000 media personnel have gathered for the 16-day competition.