HBS MEMORIES 2012: THERE AND BAKU - 17/12/2012 HBS was in charge of three Other FIFA Events (OFEs) during the course of 2012. Kicking off in August with the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan and closing in Thailand with November's FIFA Futsal World Cup, it was perhaps the event sandwiched in-between that was the most intriguing.
The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, commencing in September in Azerbaijan, marked HBS' first project in the country and the first OFE to be held in the region in the post-Soviet era. A fast-developing and ambitious nation, Azerbaijan provided some pleasant surprises and interesting experiences for the HBS team, as Project Manager Stefan Wistuba and Coordinator Hlne Fullana explain.
Stefan and Hlne meet some of their new neighbours at the 8km Stadium in Baku
STEFAN WISTUBA
When we first arrived in Azerbaijan a year before the tournament the LOC had promised brand new stadiums but all we saw were empty fields. However, to our pleasant surprise, once event time arrived everything was ready quite impressively so.
We worked hand in hand with Russian production company ANO Sports also known as Panorama who had been appointed Host Broadcaster by FIFA. They provided three brand new 10 camera OB vans for the project as well as three SNGs and three production teams to complement the usual HBS event-time team. The project will be remembered as a very successful event and Costa Rica will have their hands full in 2014 to meet the same expectations.
It was not just about the production of football matches either. The event brought something different to our coverage, with Jennifer Lopez, Shakira and Cirque du Soleil all performing during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
The performance of Lopez actually led to one of those amusing moments we sometimes encounter during an event. As she was on stage elegantly performing, one of our handheld cameraman crossed the back of the stage to get a reverse shot of her. At that moment she bent down, directly into the camera, revealing her reportedly $27 million insured posterior to the camera. When our cameraman returned backstage he had the biggest smile that I have ever seen
HELENE FULLANA
It was striking to see how developed Baku was. There was a lot of really interesting modern architecture in the city most notably the Flame Towers'. It was actually a residential block comprising three towers which were lit up at night and had animations projected on them, including one memorable one with a man carrying the Azeri flag from one tower to the next.
The 8km Stadium was located in a very residential area so it was a chance to see the real' Azerbaijan in contrast to the modern downtown. There was actually a lot of local Azeri children playing in the area around the Broadcast Compound, so it was nice to see that while we were focusing our project on broadcasting this FIFA event there was the next generation playing the game, and dreaming of one day starring in a FIFA event, right outside our facility.
We were able to use the local stores around the 8km Stadium which really helped us to feel integrated into their community. Despite the language barrier we were able to communicate and laugh with the locals. I was still able to get help with everything from liaising with the LOC down to ordering takeaway food for all the crew, even though I speak no Azeri and a lot of the locals spoke no English!
It is a learning process for everyone, and with a country like Azerbaijan, which is trying to establish itself as somewhere that can provide the setting for a world-class broadcast operation, you really can feel the value of playing your part in helping them to develop their knowledge base while yourself learning about the human aspect of their different culture.
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HBS MEMORIES 2012: THERE AND BAKU - 17/12/2012 HBS was in charge of three Other FIFA Events (OFEs) during the course of 2012. Kicking off in August with the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan and closing in Thailand with November's FIFA Futsal World Cup, it was perhaps the event sandwiched in-between that was the most intriguing. 
