Andrea Grosso is Deltatre’s Event Management Lead and has worked across some of the biggest sporting events around the world, including this summer’s Euro 2024
When did you join Deltatre?
I joined Deltatre in 1999 and my first job was as a TV operator covering Champions League matches across Europe. I’ve been with the company 25 years now and still enjoy the adrenaline rush of live events.
What have been your favourite memories over the last 25 years?
I have a lot of great memories from my work with Deltatre so far. It has taken me all over the world and I’ve covered global events across football, skiing and athletics. It can be a tough job, but the memories are all positive. We always work with a great attitude providing our team with lots of support and most importantly, doing the job with a smile.
Deltatre at Euro 2024
Deltatre provided data and graphics services across all 51 matches at Euro 2024 in Germany. At an event like the Euros, we arrive three weeks in advance at the International Broadcast Center (IBC) to set up all the hardware needed and prepare the database for testing. We work every day in the run-up to the event to be ready for the start of the tournament. As well as our team at the IBC, we have on-site teams present on-site at each venue.
During the group stage, with matches at 15:00, 18:00 and 21:00, the working day kicked off in the IBC at 8.30. Here we performed UEFA-requested checks with all the venues ahead of kick-off. After delivering live operations throughout the match, we finished around midnight before getting ready to do it again the next day!
How big is the Deltatre team working on live events like Euro 2024?
In the IBC we had a big team working shifts across the tournament while at each venue, we had one supervisor, one TV operator, one FAN TV operator overseeing graphics, and one Deltatre van with dozens working across the 10 stadiums used during Euro 2024. Our work in Germany was also supported by Deltatre’s operations centre in Turin.
What was your favourite thing about covering Euro 2024?
From a personal point of view, what always impresses me after all these years is the sense of camaraderie and passion that existing and new Deltatre team members bring to events like this. There are long shifts and sometimes difficult situations, but at the end, you always find something to smile about. In many cases, we are more friends than colleagues.
What sort of skills are needed to be a success when working on live events?
You need to be calm and ready, live events require a great level of attention and preparation. You also need to have a good knowledge of the business and the rules of the sport you’re covering. The added value of the teams that work in live events is the passion they bring, and this has been the trademark of Deltatre since the beginning.