 Readers, a flurry of snow for the first time in weeks in London on Thursday 23 February, 2006, meant it could only be time for one thing and one thing only. Yes, Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006, in association with our divine sponsor BT Media and Broadcast.
Whilst we didn’t quite experience the sub-Siberian temperatures of the 2005 event, we will now be looking at placing a bet with bookmakers next year to predict snow on the day of the 2007 conference. Especially if we move it to June. (Well, this is the UK).
For one S&T Conference delegate, experiencing said frosty flakes was actually a complete blessing, being something he had never experienced before in his native South Africa. It was not such a blessing however for 50 or so shivering employees of BT Centre who decided to choose the day of our conference to stage a demonstration at the front of the building. We don’t think they were objecting to our presence per se, but they certainly made entering the building thoroughly exciting…. It was the first time S&T had ever crossed a picket line! (The calls of ‘scab’ and ‘traitor’ will be ringing fondly in our ears for many months).
Obviously, what took place on stage was even more exciting than off. From the moment Lester Potter, head of global sales at BT Media and Broadcast leapt onto the sumptuous stage like a gazelle, right through to the moment that Marius Schneider, head of information services at FIFA provided his thoroughly apt closing address, the audience was whipped into a veritable cornucopia of insight and debate. (Apart from one delegate at the back who was spotted snoring; but he had been up all night with his new baby, so we’ll forgive him). Probing questions Readers, we kid you not, this year’s conference had it all. If we were not poking fun at, we mean reviewing, new technologies on stage, we were debating issues of importance to the industry at large such as, ‘can Rachael Church mention her beloved Exeter City Football Club more than 15 times in one day?’; ‘were the vegetable tortilla wraps at lunch better than the meaty ones?’ and, ‘what exactly is involved in the new sport hailing from Finland called Leet?’ And that was in between peering at the smallest television set in the world (we think – it was very small after all), looking hot in ‘must-have’ video sunglasses and fighting over the fine array of gifts at this year’s Charity Raffle with Mystery Special Guest.
Ah, the Charity Raffle, the pinnacle of Sport and Technology: The Conference, and let’s face it, the main reason most of us were there that day. (Only joking; we were there for the wine). Taking place against a backdrop of a generously beveraged Aura Sports-sponsored Drinks Party, the Raffle this year comprised of some prizes that can only be described as absolute peaches, as well as many that were frankly, quite rubbish indeed. (ArkSports Towers is relocating soon and we had a lot of junk to get rid of). Prizes such as a PlayStation and games (donated by BT Media and Broadcast), iPod Shuffle (Deltatre), Official World Cup Football and cap (FIFA), FC Barcelona shirt signed by Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona), PSV Eindhoven goodies (PSV), Torino 2006 tat, signed Ellen MacArthur merchandise (OC Group), a darts outing with Premium TV, English Premier League soccer tickets (courtesy of Sportev) and a copy of the forthcoming, stunningly brilliant new report from ArkSports – The Global Business of Poker - were among items kindly donated by our generous speakers, and paved a frenzied path to the ultimate prize – no, not the stolen Gleneagles slippers, giant tennis ball, nor the Nippon FC mug – but an Exeter City Football Shirt and goodies. Pass out ye not at the thought of that dear Readers!!
The Raffle was drawn by S&T’s honoured Special Guest, Dr David Treharne, who recently stepped down as Chairman of Exeter City to pursue an international media career (among Exeter University lecturing commitments), thus befitting his status as the erstwhile head of the world’s greatest ever soccer club. There was a very spooky link between S&T, Exeter City and the designated charity – Rainbow Farm - that would be rude not to share with you, and also takes up a few valuable column inches (S&T gets paid by the word after all). As well as housing the mighty Grecians, regular readers of this column will already know that Exeter is the WiFi Hotspot capital of the UK. Furthermore, Exeter City was the first UK soccer club to ever play in Brazil – going on tour there in 1911 (and subsequently and rather cheekily getting arrested for wearing undergarments on a beach). And designated Raffle Charity Rainbow Farm, is based in Brazil, looking after street children. How everything goes full-circle we hear you cry! This year, we raised a whopping £1,016.67, plus 30 Euros, which is more than three times the amount we raised last year. Brilliant. And not a single button nor piece of chewing gum to be found.
A ‘proper’ review of the day’s proceedings is being feverishly scribbled while you read this, and will be with all delegates, speakers and partners of the event very shortly indeed, along with access instructions for the video recordings of the day and the chance for delegates to see how great they look on camera. Cameras and S&T sponsorship news! Talking of cameras, S&T’s good chums at CNN had us back in front of one this week at The Brit Oval, scene of the England cricket team’s triumph in the Ashes series against the Australians last year. S&T was, along with Surrey County Cricket Coach Alan Butcher, asked to discuss a new bit of gadgetry that enhances training techniques. Whilst you will have to watch CNN to find out more about that, S&T was delighted to, having been ‘caught short’ as it were (but luckily not at the boundary, ho ho), be invited to use the men’s changing room facilities at the hallowed Ground.
Afterwards, Alan Butcher was able to confirm that the water closet utilised by S&T would also have been frequented by Freddie Flintoff, Kevin Peterson, Michael Vaughan and S&T’s other cricketing heroes, during last summer’s triumph. Can life get any better? (In terms of toileting tales, that has to be on a par with S&T’s cubicle hobnobbing with former British Olympic 1984 Gold Medallist Ice Skater Jayne Torvill at last November’s Clintons Solicitors’ sports party at London’s City Hall; Clintons being S&T’s Official Legal Sponsor).
With trips to Milan (FIFA Masters lecturing), Manchester (Opening Ceremony for Melbourne 2006; I know, wrong city, but we like to be fashionably late), Shanghai (SPORTELAsia and the wonderful ArkSports panel discussion) and Seoul (SportAccord) all to cram in before we next go to press, S&T is sure to have more bathroom-related celebrity spotting and japery to share with you. And perhaps some industry insights as well if you are lucky.
Before that though, we’re off to watch our brand new baby in action as we spy on the training antics of fresh kids on the block, Bromley Common Football Club. Yep, we have gone even more soccer-bonkers (if possible), capitalising on the certain hysteria that will come out of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, by becoming the official kit sponsor of said team, which will compete next season in the Orpington and Bromley District Sunday League in the UK’s fine county of Kent. Fear not faithful readers, we will be keeping you fully up-to-date with the team’s progress and publishing regular photos of our favourite BCFC players in their S&T shirts! (And if we’re lucky, some without). Ciao for now! Rachael Church
Editor Have you ever spotted a famous sports person in a public bathroom? Or have you ever used a famous sports person’s washroom facilities? If you have any comments or feedback on this article or any of the features in S&T, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please e-mail your comments to editor@sportandtechnology.com. Or watch television instead. S&T loves the new series of 24 in particular.
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