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Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/88798
Natural Venues US Rowing introduced live stream- ing video of their events where spectators can view a race from start to finish. They also use UStream to show the videos live on site, online and on mobile devices. into consideration when choosing venues. We have had to postpone events due to hurricanes and lightning, but eventually we get them done. During events we constant- ly monitor changing weather using weath- er websites or, in some cases, we have the Coast Guard Auxiliary on hand and they keep us up to date. OnΩ a rare occasion we have had to postpone the competition, but 99 percent of the time we wait until the weather blows through and then continue the event." Planners should talk with people who regularly use the venue for recreation, noted Powers in Columbia. "I suggest inviting local paddlers (if you are not one yourself) to join the local organizing com- mittee. People who have paddled a lake or river for years can be a huge asset for any first time event, especially when you are talking about whitewater. We had a local paddling club and several local paddlers who were able to give us 'inside' informa- tion on the river, the potential dangers and what paddlers need." Trail runs are over terrain that's less controlled, but even so, planners need to be aware of safety issues. The 5k Mud Bug Run in Greensboro, N.C., takes run- ners "down trails, across giant mud pits, up and down mud hills, through the lakes and ponds of the park, and over hay bales and other obstacles," said Amy Scott, director of marketing for the Greensboro Area CVB. "And note, I said through the lakes. We have to be careful that even a crazy 6 Natural Venues Guide 2012 route like this is still safe." Safety has to be priority number one, Powers said. "Safety personnel and vehicles must have access to the entire venue. And large rivers are usually multi- jurisdictional. Our course for the Wildwater Junior World Championship impacted police/fire/ rescue agencies from two counties, three cities and a state agency. We had to coordi- nate nine separate agencies along with a dozen local paddlers (who were actually on the water) into one safety plan that acted as one entity. My advice is, start planning early. You can make mistakes planning for parking or spectator areas, but you cannot make a mistake with your safe- ty/security plan." Protecting Natural Assets "When you're on the organizing side of things, you realize how to be a good stew- ard of the land you're using," said Patrick Nuss, event director for the Cascade Orienteering Club that holds events in the Seattle area (see sidebar for more). "We talk to the land managers, learn what to avoid (and how to design courses to avoid those things), and how to minimize our impact. But even if you're not on the organizing side, I think event participants see the need to protect the natural areas, because they are the users who are the most intimately connected with the land." Recycling programs are a priority at most events. "At Vancouver Lake, an extensive recycling program is in place to ensure trash is disposed of in an environ- mentally friendly way. Volunteers also spend time cleaning up the park and lake throughout the year," Stratton said. "With races at Fort Vancouver, because it is on National Park Service (NPS) ground, cer- tain rules need to be adhered to, such as working with the NPS to educate runners about historic artifacts that might be uncovered and need to be documented." Learning more about an area helps people want to protect it, said Amy Lukasik in Flagler County. "For exam- ple, for the past two years, the Tour de Palm Coast has used the popular Graham Swamp Trail that includes more than 2,500 acres of a wetland hardwood swamp. We installed new QR code signs along the trail and encourage bikers and spectators to scan these with their smart phones to connect and discover historical and geological facts about our area." Planners and communities should connect with local volunteers to ensure that venues are maintained. "Build a relationship with your parks and the state department of natural resources," Dunn said. "Our natural venues in Snohomish County are used by orien- teers, equestrian groups, runners, kayakers, windsurfers; they all respect the area and make sure the trails are in good shape. Great relationships like this are vital to the success of events." ■ www.sportseventsmagazine.com Knoxville Tourism & Sports Commission