In February 2011, Kazakhstan will host the 7th Winter Asian Games.

International Games Broadcast Services (IGBS) - the 50/50 joint venture between HBS and IMG that delivered the Host Broadcast Operation of the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar - has signed a contract to implement the event-time broadcast deliverables for the upcoming Games in Kazakhstan. The contract, signed in accordance with the Olympic Committee of Asia, also involves Ssang Yong, the Korean IT and Timing Company, another partner involved in the much acclaimed implementation of the Doha Asian Games.

The Local Organizing Committee in Kazakhstan (AWAGOC) decided to hold the Games to capitalize on the advantages afforded by the country’s diverse climate and rich natural conditions, in two key Kazakh cities.

The area around ALMATY, in the South, is perfect for Alpine skiing, biathlon and short-track. 'Medeo', a high mountain skating rink, is currently under reconstruction for such events. Not far from this venue is the Shimbulak ski resort. In the foothills of Zailiyskiy, Alatau, a new ski-biathlon stadium is being built.

The ski area will thus be increased five-fold with Almaty airport also undergoing an extensive upgrade.

Other Asian Games venues are situated in the capital ASTANA, where modern stadia and sport complexes are busily being erected.

"The greatest challenge, says Francis Tellier, the CEO of IGBS, is going to be the short lead time for us to get prepared as the event takes place early in the New Year. But our team has already etched out its master plan and resources are being contracted as I speak."

Graham Fry, Steering Committee Member of IGBS, adds: "Everyone is truly excited by this project whereby our combined knowledge of working on winter sports over many years and in many parts of the world, will hopefully stand us in very good stead. The combined experiences of IMG and HBS have again married together perfectly to form a strong Host Broadcaster alliance and although the timeframe is quite short, we are confident of putting on a great show in Kazakhstan."

According to the near to final competition schedule, events are to be held in 12 separate sporting venues, with more than 2000 athletes from 26 Asian countries taking part in the Games.

A team of experts - including IMG’s Mike Wilmot, Dave Shield, Tony Gavin and Peter Angell, the HBS Head of Project, along with several other HBS veterans - are already hard at work, planning the next steps after an in-depth reconnaissance of the event venues this week.

The operational implementation of yet another exciting challenge has started for IGBS.

International Games Broadcast Services (IGBS), the newly-named company born out of Doha Asian Games Broadcast Services (DAGBS), has been awarded the host broadcasting of the 1st Asian Beach Games Bali 2008.

The 1st Asian Beach Games will take place in Bali, Indonesia, in October 2008. Forty five nations are going to participate in seventeen different sports, ranging from beach handball, sailing and surfing to triathlon.

This event represents a first contract for IGBS, the 50/50 joint-venture in which resources of the parent-companies, HBS and IMG Media, are to be pooled again to deliver yet another "best ever", after the world acclaimed delivery of the Asian Games Doha 2006, in Qatar.

"We at IGBS are very proud to be involved in the first edition of the Asian Beach Games Bali 2008," says Francis Tellier, CEO of IGBS. "It represents an opportunity to utilise the extremely positive experience gained at the 15th Asian Games in another dynamic, challenging and interesting multi-sport environment."

Bali 2008 will be followed by Oman 2010, Haiyang 2012 and Baraclay 2014.

From left to right: Patrick Furlong - Director Broadcast and Media Services, Ahmad Abdullah Al-Khulaifi- Deputy Director General Corporate Support, Yousef Mohamed Al Othman - Deputy Director General Operations, Francis Tellier - CEO of DAGBS

On 25 January 2007 at the DAGOC office in Doha, Francis Tellier, CEO of DAGBS accompanied by Tony Gavin and Peter Angell, officially handed over the DAGBS Doha 2006 Final report to Yousef Mohamed Al Othman, Deputy Director General Operations, Ahmad Abdullah Al-Khulaifi Deputy Director General Corporate Support and Patrick Furlong, Director Broadcast and Media Services.

“Appointing DAGBS as the Host Broadcaster of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 has been one of the best decisions DAGOC ever made” said Yousef Mohamed Al Othman. He further thanked Francis Tellier and the DAGBS team “for the excellent job achieved by the 50/50 joint venture between HBS and TWI and for the very successful delivery of the broadcast operations”.

Francis Tellier thanked DAGOC for the trust they have put in DAGBS and also underlined the permanent mutually cooperative attitude both parts had all the way through the project.

He then concluded by quoting the final report:” Although the amount of information and know how included in this report is huge, the human expertise cannot be included. The 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 were an immensely demanding and enjoyable undertaking for the DAGBS team. We will never thank DAGOC enough for giving us this opportunity. The challenge for the followers is now tremendous; it goes without saying that DAGBS would be happy and honoured to provide further support…”