It was a second „Summer Fairy Tale“ and a very special highlight for us and our crews. The European Football Championships (Euro 08). Our team managed a close second place and brought home the silver to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans who greeted them at the Brandenburg Gate. And it was a success for us as well. With a local crew on location to set up and dismantle the lighting and sound, we were able to experience the Euro 08 up close. Special stage constructors also made sure that “public viewing” was a unique experience and that the floor remained under the feet of the many fans.
Professional stagehands – also provided by us – took care of the set-up and dismantling of the lighting, sound and video equipment in and around Vienna and Basel. But the broadcast professionals were not the ones responsible for the interruption during the semi-final game between Germany and Turkey that left the world holding its breath. A heavy storm with strong winds was the actual cause of the blackout which left the broadcast centre in Vienna without power for a while. This was the central broadcast centre for all of the other stations showing the game – or not, in this case ;-) But somehow the broadcast was restored just in time to show the all important goal by Miroslav Klose which gave Germany the 2:1 lead.
While broadcasters throughout the world are busy trying to find ways to get some kind of compensation from UEFA for the signal interruption, we are thinking in a more positive direction towards the next “Summer Fairy Tale”, the World Cup 2010. As we like to say: after the European Cup is before the World Cup (and vice versa). We’re looking forward to it!
And here is a photo from the set-up at the Fan Mile in Berlin – for anyone who ever wanted to know what a PSA looks like in action.
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