Media team spreading the legend of Durand far and wide

Media team spreading the legend of Durand far and wide

With the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup being held across four states of eastern and north-eastern India, the biggest challenge for the Durand Cup Organizing Committee (DCOC) will no doubt be logistics. But with the Indian Army at the helm, such mountains turn into molehills.

The other massive operation with its unique challenges of operating across four states for the same tournament, has undoubtedly been managing and catering to media needs.

From managing the online accreditation process to customising and churning out content daily to coordinating for interviews and press conferences with as many as 24-teams besides internal stakeholders, the media team of the 133rd IndianOil has been working around the clock.

Picture this. A total of 480 applications, including from journalists, photo journalists and content creators were received and over a 100 more temporary accreditations had to be issued after the start of the tournament. Add to that a 100 plus official documents including fliers, invitations, presentations, profiles, press releases and speeches, have been churned out even before the tournament began. Over a 1000 journalists across the length and breadth of the country have been engaged, informed and made aware of the finer details of the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup.

The media strategy was formulated at least two months before the tournament, databases updated, tie-ups and partnerships closed and day to day activities for the campaign chalked outwith precision.

There were press events in five cities in the lead up to the first game. Information and content included broadcaster and sponsor announcements, sharing details of the opening ceremonies and key dignitaries in each host city, schedules,ticket sales etc. Coordination activities were for live feeds for example with the official broadcaster and with every key stakeholder as well as with team media managers for interview requests, press conferences et all.

All this effort has resulted in media in at least 18 states of the country covering the 133rd IndianOil Durand Cup regularly despite the Olympics, the greatest sporting spectacle in the world, beginning on the same day as this year’s IndianOil Durand Cup edition.

The media team like every other arm of the DCOC deserves kudos.