BCU Student's work experience at the Commonwealth Games

Ashlea's experience at the Commonwealth Games was backed by her passion for the sports media industry, and as a Sports Journalism student, she wasn't going to let the opportunity of working at the biggest sporting event to have been hosted in the UK in recent years pass her by.

Before the Commonwealth Games, Ashlea wasn’t aware of the role of a logger within a production company, since undertaking her work experience, she is now considering this as a career once she has graduated.

"For 11 days in August, I completed work experience with Sunset+Vine as a logger at the International Broadcast Centre at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. A logger is a key role when it comes to broadcasting. A logger is a person who watches the live broadcast stream and logs the key moments ready for the clippers to make clips and highlight packages which other TV companies from all over the world can use.

On day one as I approached the NEC I felt extremely nervous about the logging job as I was so worried, I thought, I’m just not going to enjoy it - I thought I would mess it all up! But this feeling soon passed, when my first live broadcast of badminton started. I was really happy and excited to be involved with such a massive event in my home city, Birmingham. 

The whole experience with Sunset+Vine has been the best thing I’ve ever done, from start to finish, I enjoyed every single second of it for many reasons. Logging badminton for 11 days (due to badminton being on every single day of the games) was incredible and the best thing about the whole experience for me. I got to log some of the most incredible games, including some Team England doubles medal matches. I also enjoyed getting to know and love badminton more than I ever thought I would. I even loved learning about the rules, did you know that badminton was the best of three games? and that it was first to 21 points in each game to win? Did you know that the areas of the court that is considered ‘out’ is different in singles compared to doubles? I learnt so much! 

I’ve met and have made friends with so many new people. We laughed, panicked and most importantly helped one another out if we needed something over the duration of the games. If one person was logging and they needed a break or a drink, myself and many other loggers would be on-hand to help out or jump in to log their session.  

I made some lifelong memories: from watching England play Netball at the NEC with my friend Lizzy (who’s on the same course as me), to taking funny selfies with the Perry the mascot statue outside with my new friend Emily, not forgetting meeting so many world class past and present athletes for Team GB/England - such as Emily Campbell (weightlifting Commonwealth champion), Nicola Adams (former Olympic champion), Ellie Simmonds (former Paralympic champion) and most of the Team England badminton squad including Lauren Smith, Toby Penty, Sean Vendy and Ben Lane.  

Finally, with our accreditation all the loggers got to watch all the sport on offer at the NEC for free. Wow! So, of course, I went and watched some badminton, table tennis, netball, boxing and weightlifting live in person near enough everyday which was spectacular to see and something I really enjoyed. Getting to see all the sports live was a massive bonus with this experience. It wouldn’t have mattered to me personally if we couldn’t as we all had a job to do, but the fact our accreditation meant we could walk in and watch the sports for free and my bosses encouraged us to take full advantage of our spare time it was a no brainer that I would go and watch some sport with my new friends. This is definitely a special memory that I will cherish forever, as we won’t see another Commonwealth Games in Birmingham for a long time. 

From the whole experience, overall I feel I’ve gained a good insight into what working for a TV company is actually like and how working on a big multi-sport event is so much fun. I’ve learnt all the skills in order to potentially be a successful logger in the future, which considering I never knew what a logger was before I started is outstanding in my opinion. I’ve also learnt so much from the people I’ve met and have worked with throughout the games, they have all been incredible, right through from my fellow loggers, to my logger bosses: Scott, Sarah and Chris, and my main co-ordinators: Viktorija, Emma and Jemma. I will be forever grateful to them for giving me the opportunity and everything they have taught me along the way.  

Overall, upon reflection of my whole experience with Sunset+Vine I feel I have learnt so much. I’ve learnt a completely new job role for a TV company, I’ve learnt all about badminton, I’ve learnt how to use a completely new computer programme for logging, my teamwork skills have improved so much more over the 11 days as we (the loggers) all had each others backs through everything and finally I’ve potentially found a career path for me in the future which before these games I never would have thought of.  

The whole Commonwealth Games were so incredible not only to be a part of but to watch certain events live in person too was a dream come true. And for me to say I worked on the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham is something I will never forget for the rest of my life and is something I will forever be grateful for. What an experience!"