4 - FIFA/CIES International University Network

what we want them to do. Failure
to deliver is not accepted. They see
us as a ‘trophy’ contract and I hope,
and believe, this means they give us
special attention.
“They are under no illusions. It’s
a two-week event attracting half-amillion
people here. Everything has
to be of the right quality and price,
and everyone needs to feel that
they have been served well with an
attention to detail.”
‘Henman Hill’ (left) and No. 1 Court - Getty Images Sport
year. I met someone who said that
he had been coming here to work
for 48 years,” adds Ritchie. “A large
number of volunteers take holidays
to work here - they just love it.”
For all the valuable assistance
provided by those who give their
time for free, Wimbledon would
not work without the specialists
who are hired to create the ‘nuts
and bolts’ of the event.
“We have over a dozen
suppliers. Our view is that
longevity is not a bad thing but
that they also move with the times.
We are a commercially astute
organisation and we have to keep
them all up to the mark,” says
Ritchie. “We look more at quality
and values than cost - we will not
go for the cheapest option.
“The contractor must understand
Henman Hill
For the past 10 years Creative
Technology has been responsible
for the production of video content
shown on big screens dotted
around the Wimbledon complex.
They do something similar at all the
LTA and ATP tournaments held in
the UK and the 45 PGA European
Tour golf tournaments each year.
Having tested the set-up in
the spring, the team move in 10
days before the Championships
start to lay two-to-three kilometres
of cables from a central area to
each screen, situated on the show
courts and at three other locations
around the grounds. During the
Championships 12 people are
involved - eight arriving in the
morning, with the remainder
starting at lunchtime each day.
Creative’s handy work has
become a familiar sight during the
fortnight, in particular in recent
years the now iconic viewing area
at ‘Henman Hill’ (or ‘Murray
Mount’ as it has now been dubbed).
“For Henman Hill we use a
Panasonic 12mm LED, which is
a new system coming on stream
in preparation for London 2012.
It’s about 8.5 metres long and
5.5 metres high,” says managing
director Dave Crump.
“We base ourselves in the
broadcast centre, recording up to 12
matches at any one time and put up
graphics saying everything from the
score to advice on using sunscreen.
Essentially our operation does not
look any different from any of the
overseas broadcasters as effectively
we are providing a television
programme for Henman Hill for up
to 15 hours per day.”
The evening after the men’s final,
weather permitting Creative moves
its equipment over 400 miles to the