1 st UEG Communication Seminar

1. www.ueg.org – March 2014

2. 1stUEG Communication Seminar Presentation of John Goodbody/THE SUNDAY TIMES www.ueg.org – March 2014

3. How to treat the information? What are the expectations of the media? www.ueg.org – March 2014

4. Vera Caslavska - Photo : AFP Olga Korbut – Photo : AllsportUK/Allsport Nadia Comaneci – Photo : AllsportUSA/ALLSPORT SawaoKato - Photo : AFP www.ueg.org – Mars 2014

5. Mary Lou Retton - Photo : Steve Powell /Allsport Beth Tweddle – Photo : MINKUSIMAGES/UEG Vitaly Scherbo - Photo : Chris Cole/Allsport Svetlana Khorkina – Photo : Eileen Langsley SUPERSPORT www.ueg.org – Mars 2014

6. Welcome My career in reporting gymnastics beginning with the 1968 Olympics and the famous “Mexican Hat-dance” of Vera Caslavska. The big change in the reporting of gymnastics in the last 50 years. The debt I owe in this talk to Jayne Pearce, who was head of all the press arrangements at the London Olympics. www.ueg.org – March 2014

7. The importance of Television to Gymnastics Most people see gymnastics on television and not as spectators in arenas Competitive gymnastics takes place rarely, unlike football. Therefore you must make the most of the opportunities presented. You must try to get gymnastics on TV as often as possible. www.ueg.org – March 2014

8. The change in working practices of journalists Typewriters are out and laptops are in ! www.ueg.org – March 2014

9. Setting up the Press Center First rule is having wi-fi available and internet access for both the written press and the photographers. You must make sure the media centre is where you can get a mobile signal. You must have someone on the door of Press Centre to check accreditation Installing large lockers is useful. There must be all the right documentation such as lists of competitors and biographies of many of them. Pigeon holes needed with full results supplied. www.ueg.org – March 2014

10. Setting up the Press Center Food and drink. Need for coffee, tea, water and ability to buy sandwiches. Televisions in press room focussing on different apparatus. Opening hours of press room. Two hours before start of event and two hours after the competition. Area needed for interviews. Which gymnasts should be interviewed ? What translation should be offered ? www.ueg.org – March 2014

11. Press Stand Must be close to the Press Center. Need for facilities for landlines, electrical plugs, and plenty of room for the journalist to work. Televisions on desks. Also metal cables with a lock to affix to laptops. Otherwise they can be stolen. Need for results sheets to be distributed. www.ueg.org – March 2014

12. Mixed Zone Should be close to Press Stand and Press Centre. It is where the media can interact with the gymnasts. Order for competitors: 1.TV. 2. Radio 3. Newspapers, agencies, websites third Importance of ‘flash’ quotes. www.ueg.org – March 2014

13. Transport Press hotels. Helpful if press hotels is where some of the teams are staying so buses can serve both. Shuttle buses between hotels and the venue. Last one should leave competition venue when press centre closes - two hours after the end of the competition. www.ueg.org – March 2014

14. Service IMPORTANCE OF BACK-UP PLANS : Technician available. Helpful volunteers. www.ueg.org – March 2014

15. Summery… PRESS OPERATION : A place to watch 2. Access to competitors 3. A trouble-free means to transmit stories and photos. www.ueg.org – March 2014

16. Increasedpublicitybefore the event Here is how you can do it: Set up website. Must be updated regularly, similarly with facebook and twitter. Journalists should be sent e-mails updating them with news. Importance of former stars such as Nadia Comaneci at the world championships in London in 2009. Perhaps pictured in front of famous sights. Opening up of training sessions to the media as London did for 2012. www.ueg.org – March 2014

17. BEST OF LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. www.ueg.org – March 2014