How do you want to experience the world’s best athletic show?

I want to see it live. I want to arrive at the stadium with high expectations. I want tempo, good results, excellent guiding, inspirational atmosphere, tough fights, excitement and memorable records. I want to be surprised. And, when the gala is over, I want to leave the stadium with a feeling of ”wow”, a smile on my face and exceeded expectations.

I have the ability to create this feeling. To form and create Sweden’s most known yearly sport event. To give you the perfect competition. How well we succeed is up to you to decide. Every year we conduct a survey among spectators, athletes and managers to evaluate the competition. And one thing is for sure. DN Galan is top ranked in Sweden and in an international perspective. We are in many aspects seen as a role-model and initiator of new ideas. We drive. We want to be even better.

Did you know that everything is directed?

My name is Janne Åkerblom and I been DN Galan’s Event Presentation Manager since 1997. I plan the gala in the smallest of details, write the manuscript and then – with a lot of flexibility – I steer the show to make the entertainment value as great as possible without affecting the athletes performances.

It’s common to say that we – the organizers – can’t affect the results. But I’m convinced of the opposite. The engaged spectator who enjoys the gala and wants to be a part of the show, really can help the athletes to reach a higher level.

I direct and work with – besides one of the best audiences in the world – a very tight and experienced group of officials. Together we monitor and adjust. We are slowing down or speeding up different events, presentations etc – just so you don’t miss any of the best. Nobody can follow both Christian Olsson and Blanka Vlasic if they are making their performances in exactly the same moment. And it would be a pity if Andreas Thorkildsen set a new stadium record when everyone was concentrating at the start procedure of the upcoming 100m.

Towards the perfect gala

The road to the perfect gala is well travelled. We use video screens and result boards with live pictures, facts and results. We use music and sound effects that helps you to look in the right direction. One sound for presentations in sprint races, another for presentation in field events, a third for victory ceremonies, a fourth that starts when the last lap begins. We have three announcers with different roles. And we coordinate every important thing with the host broadcaster who produces both the international and the national TV-pictures.

When the last event is finished around 10 am the evening of August 6th. 2010 I plan to have taken yet another step towards the perfect gala. And I hope that you this evening will leave the 98 years old Olympic Stadium with a smile on your face feeling – ”wow, this was the best athletic show you have ever visited”.

Janne Åkerblom
Event Presentation Manager, DN Galan

PS. Is it something we can do better? Please send an e-mail: eventpresentation@dngalan.com