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Sustainability is an essential part of any modern Olympic Games project. It covers every aspect of the planning and delivery of the Games, from environmental management to the legacy of participation, and the broadcast operation is no exception – despite the huge amount of power, equipment and personnel required to beam the spectacular Olympic moments to viewers across the globe. “The Games are growing, the complexity is growing and the number of broadcasters is growing, so we have been thinking of ways to enable broadcasters to do more with less, which means less presence in the host city, and less broadcast footprint,” says Yiannis Exarchos, Chief Executive Offi cer of OBS.SUSTAINABLE BROADCASTING OPERATIONAt the Olympic Games Rio 2016, Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) oversaw not only the most successful, but also the most sustainable broadcast operation in the history of the Gamesuniversities across the host city, during Games-time to work as camera assistants, audio specialists and in a variety of other paid, professional broadcast positions.Leandro Avelar, who worked with OBS as a finance assistant during the Games, believes the experience was an invaluable one. “When I first applied to the BTP, I could never imagine what it would feel to be part of the most amazing event in the world in my own hometown,” he says. “Working with different cultures gave me a new perspective, and the daily challenges helped me improve some abilities that will make all the difference in my professional career.” ■This strategy was implemented successfully in Rio de Janeiro, where the broadcast footprint, in terms of spaces and facilities used in the venues, was 20 per cent less than in Beijing eight years earlier. Meanwhile, the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) – traditionally a key part of OBS’s sustainability plan due to its significant potential for post-Games commercial use – was designed using a new, reusable solution, with approximately 60,000m2 of broadcasting space made up entirely of pre-fabricated parts. “Not a piece of cable in the IBC was left behind, and the whole system will be used again in PyeongChang and Tokyo,” adds Exarchos.Another central tenet of OBS’s increasing focus on sustainability and legacy, in line with Olympic Agenda 2020, is the Broadcast Training Programme (BTP), which aims to give the next generation of broadcasters practical experience in assembling and delivering the largest broadcast operation in the world. OBS employed 1,200 students, drawn from eight 1,200STUDENTS employed by OBS during Rio 2016‘THE WHOLE (IBC) SYSTEM WILL BE USED AGAIN IN PYEONGCHANG AND TOKYO’YIANNIS EXARCHOS, OBS CEOPictured Sustainability was a key focus in the planning and delivery of Rio 201640 OLYMPIC REVIEW OLYMPIC BROADCASTING