From March 6 to 9, 2025, the spectacular European Athletics Indoor Championships took place at Omnisport Apeldoorn. Top athletes from all over Europe competed for titles in various disciplines, with an impressive 10 hours of live TV coverage each day. FabriQ Media Group collaborated with NOS as the host broadcast production partner, with technical support from EMG/Gravity Media. Account Manager Lex Meijer offers a behind-the-scenes look at this dynamic production.

Experience and History

The European Athletics Indoor Championships were organized for the 38th time, and the Netherlands had the honour of hosting this prestigious event. In 2016, the Netherlands also organized the European Athletics Championships outdoors, held in Amsterdam. EMG was present there as well! Lex says, "We brought our experience from these major sports events, as well as from the European Championships in Berlin and Munich, to Apeldoorn to elevate the event to the next level."

A Unique and Challenging Event

"An indoor athletics event brings unique challenges, but that’s what makes it exciting! During setup, the limited space of the indoor venue requires precise and efficient planning. On competition days, multiple disciplines take place simultaneously at various locations within the stadium, all of which need to be captured with crystal-clear precision. It’s a complex but fantastic challenge!" Lex enthusiastically explains.

High-Quality On-Site Production

Preparations began as early as 2020. Lex says, "FabriQ Media Group entrusted us with providing all the necessary facilities and operational crew for the host broadcast production." Extensive planning was done in collaboration with FabriQ. Overall responsibility for EMG/Gravity Media lay with Project Manager Hilbert Flokstra. Lex adds, "Hilbert, who had operational leadership during the event, started by technically mapping out the plans and organizing them internally. He determined what equipment and personnel EMG needed to fully execute the production. This included assembling the right crew with the required expertise, creating schedules, designing workflows, and reserving trucks and materials. These are all part of his responsibilities, and he’s highly experienced in this."

The Best People and Resources

EMG/Gravity Media brought their advanced OB flagships, NOVA 105 and NOVA 106, to Apeldoorn. These two OB units housed four control rooms to simultaneously capture all the action, ensuring seamless coverage of events like shot put, long jump, and running. EMG/Gravity Media also provided technology for the Event Production with an indoor flypack control room, including two wireless cameras, a fixed camera, and extensive recording and playout capabilities. More than 150 professionals, including project managers/coordinators, camera operators, sound, video, and RF technicians, graphic and TOC operators, and operational assistants, worked together to flawlessly facilitate the European Athletics Indoor Championships.

Innovative Techniques and Special Cameras

For this high-end production, more than 45 cameras were used. EMG Connectivity provided RF connections for wireless cameras, while Aerial Camera Systems (part of EMG/Gravity Media) supplied specialized cameras. Lex says, "For example, high-speed mini cameras at pole vault and long jump allowed us to capture stunning slow-motion footage." Facilities partner Eurogrip provided the impressive Eagle Eye camera, enabling unique angles to film the athletes. Additionally, 25 commentary positions were set up, complete with monitors, commentary units, and technical support, while EMG also established the Technical Operations Center at the TV compound.

Perfect Collaboration and Flexibility

The intensive setup days leading up to the event required tight scheduling. Lex states, "On February 28, we started cabling the venue for the host broadcast production, EBU, and visiting broadcasters. On Monday, March 3, we placed the trucks and began setting up all technology and the TOC. Thanks to a strong team and clear workflows, this process went smoothly." The collaboration with FabriQ Media Group was excellent. "We have worked together on major events for some time now, such as the ABN Amro Open and the ESPN Eredivisie Awards. The atmosphere on-site was great, and thanks to thorough preparation, we were able to accommodate last-minute requests effortlessly."

NOS Studio Sport and Langs de Lijn

EMG/Gravity Media also played a crucial role in the surrounding NOS Studio Sport program, broadcast daily on NPO during the event. Uplink HOL219 was deployed as a control and satellite truck for the studio production and interviews, with three cameras and a commentary position for both radio and television on-site.

Successful and Impressive

The European Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 is a fantastic example of how a large-scale sports event can be successfully facilitated. "Thanks to detailed preparation, a skilled team, and cutting-edge technologies, this is an event to be proud of! We thank FabriQ Media Group for this incredible assignment," Lex concludes.