Equipment

Equipment directly related to participant performance

This category includes all the items that participants need to take part. For some types of activity the amount of equipment needed is very little such as a soccer match while in other activities competitor's equipment can be considerable. In some cases it is the competitor's responsibility to provide their own sports equipment e.g. track cycling or rowing regatta. In events such as a Weightlifting Tournament it is the Event Director's responsibility to provide equipment for competitors. The Event Director may also need to provide a secure area for storage and maintenance activities to be undertaken.

Where there is a requirement on the part of the Event Director to provide specialist competition equipment, efforts to locate such equipment need to be undertaken from the earliest moment as it impacts on the feasibility of the whole event. Event Directors should anticipate that equipment may need to purchased and imported from overseas. Extra time needs to be allowed for transactions that involve parties in different nations. Where equipment is required in urgently the cost can increase dramatically due to the necessity to use air freight.

Equipment related to event control

This category of equipment includes sound systems for announcing, two-way radios, intercoms and mobile telephones for communication, video cameras and closed circuit television, sirens and alarms systems, ropes and barriers to control spectators, scoreboards, timing equipment, computers and first aid equipment.

Electronic equipment can be hired but if it is required in an ongoing basis it is cheaper to purchase in the longer term. It is very effective for parent sporting bodies to purchase the equipment and to hire the equipment to clubs as needed.

There is more and more computer software available for managing tournaments and events. Such software aids the event controllers to determine the order of competitors and/or matches, score performances and print results.