TV Exposure in Finland

The Finnish sports event TV-broadcast production works on highest professional level in international events.
At the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, YLE (Finnish Broadcast Corporation) staff will be responsible for a major part of the TV coverage of athletics. YLE will produce the TV signals of the track events and the throwing events as well as the prize giving ceremonies. Moreover, the Finns will be responsible for the World Feed, which will compile the feeds of all competitions on the main stadium into one programme. YLE's directors and production staff will also participate in the TV production of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games.

Media exposure has been purposely developed with particular focus on sailing. Domestic production of televised sailing events on a regular basis already began 10 years ago since 1997 with Olympic class series and international race events:

• 49er 72 broadcasts +72 reruns
• Match Racing 10 broadcasts + 10 reruns
• Melges 24 Europeans, 2.4mR Worlds, Europe & Dragon Europeans etc.
• 1997 - 90 000 of audience (1,5% of the population)
• 1998 - 160 000 of audience (3% of the population)
• 1999 - 677 000 of audience (11% of the population)
• 2000 - 1,4 million of audience (23% of the population)

The increase in the quantity of sailing audience occurred between -97 and 2000 and have stabilized since. Finnish sailing television exposure has expanded to include three sailingoriented program series annually.

Navigare TV: 106 half hour programmes during 2004-2006 produced by Finnish Sailing Federation has reached 13,65milj viewers.

Media hospitality is a vital part of Sailing Broadcast production in Finland. For instance during the EGP 49er Finals 2000, simultaneously 2 helicopters, 5 TV-cameraboats and 3 press rib-photoboats were in action.

Sailing has evolved in a more spectator-friendly direction. Finland is a forerunner in presenting international sailing events
to the public with the theme of "fast-paced inshore sail racing" such as 49er Europeans 1998 & 49er European GP Final 2000, 2 Match Racing Europeans (Grade 1&2), Open 60 Trimarans (Nokia Oops Cup), national 29er & 49er GP Series for 10 years. Events have occasionally had more than 10 000 spectators per event interestered in sailing.

Final Races Close to the Shore

There is an unobstructed view from the shore to two of the racing areas. The shoreline and the islands close to the area of the final races in particular are easily accessible to spectators. Giant screens can be posted there. When accompanied by real-time sports commentators a deeper understanding can be conveyed to the spectators of the ongoing races. Audience Served by Commentators Onshore commentating of sailing events has been an established practice in Finland for more than 10 years running. So would it be for the ISAF Worlds as well. Boats Take Spectators to the Racing Areas Charter boats and old wooden ships will be excellent stands for spectators, especially at racing areas that cannot be well observed from ashore.

Open Europeans in Olympic Classes

• The pinnacle event in the Northern Hemisphere summer
• Positioned between Kiel week and the Weymouth test event
• Convenient transportation to the continent and Great Britain

The event will be run with the same concept as the ISAF Sailing Worlds.
The quotas will be like the ISAF Sailing Worlds, but will be managed by the classes.
The schedule will be similar to the Open Europeans in Olympic Sailing Classes.
Race and course management will be similar the Open Europeans in Olympic Sailing Classes.
Juries will work like in the Open Europeans in Olympic Sailing Classes.
Measurement will follow Class and ISAF requirements.
Social events will be negotiated with classes.
The press service will be like in the ISAF Sailing World.