Centerboard Chosen by 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

DUBLIN, Ireland – Centerboard, Inc. was chosen by Special Olympics World Summer Games Organizing Committee, Inc. to manage the Event Communications function for the 2003 Games in Ireland.
 
For the first time in its 35-year history, the World Summer Games were held outside of the United States. Dublin, Ireland was selected to host the Games in 1998.
 
Largest event in the World for 2003
With over 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and official delegates, and more than 35,000 volunteers, families, and friends, the 2003 World Summer Games was the largest sporting event in the world this year.
Comprised of 21 competition venues, and 24 non-competition venues, the 2003 Games posed significant communications challenges.
 
Centerboard was chosen to provide a comprehensive communications plan that would ensure that critical operational information was properly managed within each venue, as well as across the wider Games environment.
 
Steve O'Connor of Centerboard acted as project manager throughout the months leading up to the games, as well as during games operations.
 
"What a thrill it was to be part of the Special Olympics movement" O'Connor said. "A games as large as this posed some unique communications challenges, but our team met every one. I couldn't be happier with the outcome!"
 
Event Communications
In managing the Event Communications function for the Games, Centerboard was responsible for communications planning, including 2-way radio equipment allocation, venue radio channel planning, communication routing and protocols, and conceptualization of Event Communication Centers, or ECCs. In addition to communications planning, Centerboard delivered all of the training modules related to event communications to over 10,000 volunteers and staff. Prior to Games operations, Centerboard conducted twenty-one scenario-based simulation sessions with many of the venue teams in order to practice and reinforce venue operations and communications skills.
 
Darren Comer, Centerboard's operations manager for the 2003 World Summer Games brought his experience to bear in all of the communications planning, training, and operations. In addition, Darren led Centerboard's efforts in helping the Organizing Committee to conceptualize, create, build, and operate the Games' Main Operations Center, from where the entire Games is ultimately managed and run.
 
Games Operations
During the Games, held from June 20-29 Centerboard staff managed the operations of all 45 ECCs, including equipment, materials, and a staff of over 400 volunteers.
 
"They were just brilliant", said Ronan Kitching, Senior Operations Director for the World Summer Games Organizing Committee. "Centerboard's work was so well integrated with our event plan that they really became part of our team. Communications is a key function to any event, and even more so to a large international event like Special Olympics. Centerboard's communications planning and operations was a big part of our success."
 
Centerboard, Inc. is based in Naperville, Illinois and has been providing event communications consulting services since 2002. Primary lines of business include consulting services, communications operations, and issues management software systems.
 
Special Olympics is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Special Olympics, founded in 1963 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, is an international program of sports training and athletic competition serving over one million athletes in more than 200 countries around the world.