SYDNEY 2000 GAMES OVERLAY The Curriculum Vitae of Michael Balangue OCA Project Engineer, 1999/00

INTRODUCTION During my final semester at University completing a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney. I was fortunate to secure a job with the Olympic Coordination Authority as a junior engineer. The job was even more prestigious since I was part of the STADIA construction and games overlay team looking after Stadium Australia and the Sydney SuperDome. At graduation I was offered to continue working for the STADIA team as an engineering contractor to work mainly on the Sydney SuperDome during its final construction completion and games overlay preparation to have the venue suitable for Olympic purposes. The OCA decided at the time that the STADIA team was to oversee the Overlay construction due to the team members knowing the venues very well after involvement in the construction completion of the large venues. My responsibility for Games Overlay for the Sydney SuperDome was to manage the technology requirements for the venue and the additional electrical/mechanical services required to the Olympic functional spaces. It involved multi coordination with the technology partners (Telstra, IBM), broadcast partners (SOBO and Broadcast sub-entities) and the SOCOG users of the venue. Apart from dealing with the Games users, my responsibility also was to ensure the final product was delivered. This was achieved by managing the SuperDome staff, the construction crews and equipment suppliers.

Since I was immensely involved with the venue preparation. During the Olympic and Paralympic Games my engineering contracting position with the Olympic Coordination Authority evolved to which I was part of the running of the venue with the SOCOG Venue Management team. During those magnificent weeks of the Games I was elevated to the Site Manager position for the venue together with my OCA project team and Sydney SuperDome operations staff. The role was essentially having the responsibility for the Venue to function from the time it open its doors to when it closes, to respond to venue emergencies, to facilitate SOCOG functional team requirements and to ensure the Games Overlay product worked.

At the end of the Games, my time with the OCA ended with the decommissioning of the Olympic Stadium and Sydney SuperDome to return them to their original state The next following presentation are examples of my Games Overlay achievements.

GYMNASTICS FOP (FIELD OF PLAY) Power reticulation. Technology requirements (scoring, timing, communications) Sports Lighting Broadcast requirements Venue Operation

GYMNASTICS FOP (FIELD OF PLAY) Designed of FOP layout on ACAD2000. POWER OUTLETS Dual Power Supply Reliability Reticulation

BASKETBALL FINALS FOP (FIELD OF PLAY) Power reticulation. Technology requirements (scoring, timing, communications) Sports Lighting Broadcast requirements Venue Operation Venue Configuration and transformation.

BASKETBALL FINALS FOP (FIELD OF PLAY) Designed of FOP layout on ACAD2000. Dual Power Supply Reliability Reticulation Venue Seating reconfiguration from Gymnastics to Basketball. Officials and Scoring requirements Venue Press Requirements FOP Power.

VENUE COMMENTARY AND BROADCASTING Power reticulation. Technology requirements (scoring, timing, communications) Multi cabling requirements. Press and Broadcast facilitation. Camera Positioning, sightlines Working relationship with Broadcast and Press Managers.

FROM CONCEPTS AND DESIGNS. CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATION

Construction and Project Management Power cable installation. Mains and Back-up power requirements. Data and Communication Installation..

VENUE COMMENTARY AND BROADCASTING Liaison with the Broadcast, Press and Technology partners. PRESS seating areas BROADCASTER positions CAMERA Platforms NBC

TO THE FINAL PRODUCT !

OTHER VENUE OVERLAY SPACES

Functional areas and spaces. FOR EXAMPLE, AREAS SUCH AS THE VENUE PRESS CENTRE..

TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONAL SPACES TEMPORARY ROOMS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT ROOMS Equipment Procurement Building services requirements Construction and design.

VENUE RELIABLE POWER Facilitation of Olympic Games Brief requirement Certification from consultants and technology partners. Certification from power supply utilities providers. Testing and pre-games scenario exercises. Construction and Management.

Managed the Olympic Requirement for Reliable power supply to the venue. BACK UP GENERATOR DUAL MAINS POWER SUPPLY AUTO CHANGE OVER SWITCH ESSENTIAL LOADS. (eg Sports Lights, Broadcast, Technology Rooms)

I am proud of the experience and expertise I had gained during the Sydney Olympic Games Overlay project and the sense of self achievement. I challenged myself on the project to produce the best outcome, and now reflecting back to the achievement – its definitely an expertise I can further base my career on. As a Project Engineer, I had excelled in - Applying my engineering background in design and construction of the Mechanical and Electrical services. People management skills in dealing with a broad range of staff, technical operators, construction laborers and own project team. Project Management skills in delivering the overlay on time and budget. Broad vision in adapting to the task and requirements. Flexibility in undertaking multiple roles..

THE END