By Jana Cunningham, communications specialist, University Marketing & Communications

Forty-eight students from the University of Utah Asia Campus in Songdo, Incheon, will have the opportunity to work as media professionals for Olympic Broadcasting Services during the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Feb. 9-25, 2018.

Sine 1984, Olympic Broadcasting Services has provided college students from host countries the chance to get real world, hands-on experience during the largest broadcasting operation in the world. As the official broadcaster of the Games, Olympic Broadcasting Services is committed to training the next generation of the broadcast industry by providing an in-depth look into the intricacies of media and television.

Olympic Broadcasting Services first partnered with the U during the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2002.

“I am thrilled that students at the Utah Asia Campus can participate in the Olympics as our Salt Lake campus students did in 2002,” said Paul Rose, professor of communication at the U and broadcast training program coordinator. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that exposes students to the real world of sports broadcasting. In addition to the paid positions, some students are using the opportunity for internship credit and some have also enrolled in a special course to make mini-documentaries about their experiences.”

Students from both UAC and 12 other partner universities were required to attend a training program to prepare them for the PyeongChang Games. From there, students were selected for positions in areas such as archives operators, audio assistants, commentary systems specialists, Olympic news channel assistants, logistics assistants, production assistants, camera assistants, among others.

“The University of Utah was selected as our partner, due to the quality of their communications program,” said Luana Florentino, Olympic Broadcasting Services representative. “We previously worked with the University of Utah when the Olympic Games came to Salt Lake City in 2002, so we see it as a continuation of our collaboration. We are delighted to partner with UAC as a Broadcast Training Centre for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.”

Olympic Broadcasting Services, a company wholly owned by the International Olympic Committee, is chiefly responsible for providing the images and sounds of the Olympic Games as a service to all broadcast organizations who have purchased the television and radio rights to the Games.

Meanwhile, UAC, which opened in September 2014, is currently recruiting new students and transfer students for the Fall Semester 2018. Students may apply online until June 30, 2018, on UAC website. The campus offers four undergraduate degree programs in communication, psychology, film and media arts and urban ecology and three graduate degree programs, Master of Public Health Program and Master of Biomedical Program.