Post Office planning now for Games

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32406, 19 September 1970, Page 18

Post Office planning now for Games

i The Post Office has begun advanced preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974.

Senior engineers are now studying documents relating to the provision of communications for the Edinburgh games. The regional engineer (Mr H. W. Wilkinson) said yesterday that facilities would

' at least be as good as those >at Edinburgh and better if • possible. i The Post Office would have to provide additional facili- - ties to cope with an esti-' . mated visitor population of I 100,000; a special telephone network for relaying results from competition venues; another large network for New ; Zealand and foreign press reipresentatives; and a further [network for marshalling points at the venues. “We plan to set up a communications committee which [will work in with the games committee,” Mr Wilkinson [said. An engineer has already! been appointed at head office! to streamline the process of ordering equipment and meeting other requirements. I To provide telephone com(munications directly conneci ted with the games an esti,[mated 1900 lines will have to be established, and to ! meet the requirements of j visitors for the games it is likely that more exchange; facilities will have to be; brought into service. Besides telephones, the Post Office is also planning [the provision of teleprinter facilities and probably closedcircuit television. Up to 200 circuits will be made avail- , able at each of the major , games venues for press and radio reporters.