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is estimated that over one thousand fully accredited journalists and photographers,
more than a thousand million viewers on five continents, four hundred desks in
the press room, thirty thousand square metres of tentage, twenty miles of telephone
cables and twenty kilometres of electrical wiring were just some of these were
just some of the previsional figures given out to the press by the PGA after the
Ryder Cup at Rochester in 1995. The interest in the Ryder Cup since then has increased
and therefore the demand by the world's golfing press for facilities will be tremendous
and that doesn't include the requirements of the world's television teams of engineers
and producers.
Marcia Acacia Lopez-Bachiller is one of those given the responsibilty
of making sure everyone gets what they need to do their job of reporting the action
as it unfolds. She is well known to the press of Europe and has been in charge
of press relations at numerous European tournaments. Since 1989 she has been the
Continental Press Officer for the Ryder Cup. She knows more than most about the
media and she says that Ryder Cup without doubt is very special and something
completely different from any other tournament."
"The interest shown
by the world's media is absolutely astounding. It requires an enormous amount
of back-up involving hundreds of people." Born in Torremolinos Macia Acacia
is aware that the tourist and sport promotion will be exceptional.
"It
is quite difficult to evaluate the expectation aroused by the Ryder Cup with television
companies from all over the world present in force in the Costa del Sol and there
will be more than 1,000 million viewers following the event on TV.
One of
the largest advances in the service to the media over the last few years has been
the facility to be able to follow all the players in the tournament with each
shot appearing on a screen in the press room. "It's been a very important
innovation because it means that it is possible to follow the competition throughout
the whole 18 holes. This requires an enormous input from a great number of people
who must be in contact with the press room at every moment, says Maria Acacia.
RFEG
Emma Villacieros,
president of the Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG), the Royal Spanish Golf
Federation is confident that everything will be ready she recently tolf the press.
"The Ryder Cup is up there with the most important competions in the golf
calander. It is the only compeition which sets europe against amercia. it is a
great challenge for spain, and it will make it the focus of attention for the
golfing world.."
As far as the preparations are concerned, Villacieros
said," they're coming along well. We've already finalised the agreements
with the electricity and telephone companies. The port of Algeciras is ready and
Malaga airport is one of the most important, Improvements in road communications
are coming along steadily. It is vitally important to provide good road communications
since thousands of people will be travelling to Valderrama daily. I think we're
getting there slowly but surely."
As the interest develops through the year we will bring you more information about
how the press are being kept up-to-date with what is happening.
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