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SPORTEL 2010interest - and this places more responsibility onthe role of the players and the federations.“Sport is no longer just a game. It affects thelives of people. We all know of the research thatputs national mood swings down to sportingperformance and says sporting success generatesa feel-good factor.“Politicians have come to understand thisand that is why, in many countries, sport is atthe centre of national life. They understand thepower of sport and what it can achieve for theircountries and their people.”And Eurosport’s focus on technology is seen asa way of unlocking the power of sport and bringingit closer to a broad, pan-continental audience.“For us technology is always an opportunity.It is in our DNA,” adds Le Lay. “We were one ofthe first sport-specific channels, one of the firstto broadcast events extensively and we never stoptrying to introduce people to new sports. We areabout all sports for the whole family and our aimis always to maximise the experience.”Le Lay’s primary focus is on the live event, thebuilding block for everything the organisationdoes. His office is dominated by a massive HDscreen showing live pictures, allowing him tokeep an eye on output at all times.“The pure live concept is central to us. Whenit comes to sport only live really works. You don’tget the same emotional response as a viewer ifthe action is not live and our goal is to show liveLaurent-Eric Le LayChairman and CEO,EurosportLe Lay received an Advanced Diploma inFinance from the Université de Paris 2 in1989, going on to obtain a Masters in MediaCommunications from the École Supérieurede Commerce, Paris, in 1990. His careerbegan in the same year, working as aManagement Co-ordinator alongside theDirector General of Carat TV.In 1993, he joined Eurosport to create thesports rights sales agency. Six years laterhe took charge of internet developmentwithin Eurosport and launched EurosportNews in 2000. At the beginning of 2002,he became Deputy Managing Directorof Eurosport France and only one yearlater was named Managing Director ofBroadcasting at Eurosport, in addition tobecoming Head of Sports Acquisitions atTF1 Group, Eurosport’s parent company.In 2006, Le Lay was appointed Chairmanand CEO of the Eurosport Group and in June2008 took the same position at EurosportEvents, the group’s specialist division inthe management and development ofinternational sporting events.sport all year around,” he says.“In covering an event we use all the technologyat our disposal to bring viewers closer to theevent. We are seeing that now in our coverageof the Monte Carlo Rally. In the past rallying hasrarely been covered live but we believe that iswhat’s needed.”And of course, providing hours of live coverageis only part of the picture. “Today there is a widerstage to see content on,” Le Lay adds.“While TV remains our core business weare also a leader in online sports content andwe are determined to be available on as manymobile devices as possible. Our recent iPhoneapp was a great success, we’re also on the iPadand it won’t stop there. “This, then, is the three-screen strategy whichdrives Eurosport. In essence it’s simple - usethe technology available to extend the brand byextending the reach of content and deepening itsimmersive nature.“Internet has been THE opportunity,” says LeLay. “It was the internet that got us into sportsnews, and this is an important component of ouroffer as it is complimentary to everything we do.“The internet has given us a tool to createinteractivity between TV and viewers. In sportsthat are on screen for hours, like cycling, ouronline offering provides all the information aviewer needs to be right up to date and follow theevent when they are away from the TV. In sportsSportBusiness International • No.161 • 10.10 45