CBC Named Host Broadcaster For the World's.

Business Editors

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2000

Edmonton 2001 World Championships in Athletics is proud to announce that CBC Television is the host broadcaster for the third-largest sporting event in the world - the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, August 3rd through 12th, 2001 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

"The CBC has a tradition of excellence covering the world's greatest sporting events, and we are very proud that the CBC will be host broadcaster for the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics," said Rick LeLacheur, President and CEO, Edmonton 2001 World Championships in Athletics. "Our agreement with CBC helps us forge ahead, and will increase the profile of athletes and athletics in Canada as we continue to promote the World Championships."

The World Championships in Athletics is the third-largest sporting event in the world, based on a world-wide television audience of four billion viewers expected to tune in during the ten days of competition. The World Championships is third in scope only to the Summer Olympics and World Cup Soccer.

"To be host broadcaster - host to the world and the world's broadcasters - in our country, for the third-largest sporting event on the planet is certainly a major milestone for the CBC," said Alan Clark, Executive Director of Business Development for CBC Sports. "We're very proud to be the host broadcaster of the World Championships in Athletics, especially considering this is the first time ever this event will be held in North America," Clark said.

CBC Host Broadcast Services (CBC HBS) will provide live coverage of every track and field event inside Commonwealth Stadium, the competition venue, during the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. CBC HBS will also provide live coverage of the men's and women's marathons and walks, which will take place on the streets of Edmonton.

These pictures will be provided to more than 60 broadcasters from around the world who are expected to cover the event. CBC HBS will have six television mobiles on site and a staff of more than 300 CBC and freelance producers and technicians. CBC Sports, and Radio-Canada, will provide live coverage of the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics to Canadians.

The International Broadcast Centre will cover more than 9,300 square metres adjacent to Commonwealth Stadium. A village of mobile units will be the world broadcasters' television operations offices and will begin setting up in May, 2001. CBC HBS will have a master control centre to send pictures to the international broadcasters. And CBC HBS anticipates using technology that will, in instances, accomplish firsts in the industry for covering athletics.

Several kilometres of cable will power and provide the infrastructure for the International Broadcast Centre. In Seville, the host of the 1999 World Championships in Athletics, 1,968 people in total worked for television broadcasters sending the signals all over the world. A similar number are expected in Edmonton.

Edmonton, Alberta hosts the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, August 3 - 12, 2001. The World Championships, consisting of 24 men's and 22 women's athletic events, are expected to attract more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and managers from more than 200 countries. Over 2,500 media are expected to attend the World Championships, providing coverage around the world.

Advisory - ATTENTION ASSIGNMENT EDITORS:

There will be a media availability with Alan Clark, Executive Director of Business Development, CBC Sports and Rick LeLacheur, President and CEO, Edmonton 2001 World Championships in Athletics:

Date:    Tuesday, April 11, 2000
Time:    1:30 pm

Address: Second Floor, Main boardroom
         10044 108 Street
         Edmonton, AB