MUMBAI: Barco has received orders for its LED sport solution from five stadiums across Europe over the last three months. The five installations, which are at sports complexes in the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Russia and Ukraine respectively, have a combined value approaching 10 m Euro.
With these orders, Barco confirms it is strengthening its position in the media market for LED walls, by capitalising on the growing European sports market and significantly increases its market-share in this competitive market. 
According to an official release, Barco has received orders to install over 600 square meters ILite indoor LED and SLite outdoor LED as well as 245 flat screen displays, in stadiums in Prague, Czech Republic; Furth, Germany; Leiria, Portugal; Odessa, Ukraine and Moscow, Russia.
The largest order was placed by the Hala Sazka Arena in Prague, host of the Ice Hockey World Championships 2004. The Hala Sazka Arena has already received much attention by being granted the award for "Best Executed Construction with Steel Structure" in the Czech and Slovak Republics, 2002-2003. The high-profile installation at the Hala Sazka Arena is a perfect example of Barco's ability to adapt its display solutions to suit the client's needs.
The state-of-the-art arena will feature a centre-hung LED display of 136 square meters Barco ILite 12, as well as 310 meters Barco SLite 22 LED which will serve as fascia boarding, 245 flat screen displays that will adorn lobbies, public areas and VIP suites as well as 200 full color LED stair screens which will be used to provide additional lighting effects throughout the arena. The entire display solution is backed by Barco's proprietary sport control software. Installation is due for completion in April 2004.
Barco Media and Entertainment president Stephan Paridaen says, "With these and other recent project wins, we are clearly beginning to see the fruits of the strategic acquisitions we made in the international sports market last year. By acquiring Trans-Lux Sport (Utah, USA), now known as Barco Media, we have concentrated a significant amount of energy on this market, in terms of R&D as well as system development. Over eleven sports stadiums across Europe and North America, including some of the world's biggest and most modern stadiums such as Estadio Das Antas (Porto, Portugal) and Stade De Geneve (Geneve, Switzerland), have installed Barco sport solutions during the past year, a clear indication that Barco is fast extending its reputation as reference in the visualisation industry to the sports market too."
A second high-profile installation of Barco's LED display solution will take place at the Moscow-based Bitsa Horse Race Track. The stadium, which is currently undergoing a complete renovation, will be reopened featuring three brand-new, state-of-the-art Barco LED displays together totalling over 100 square meters. The three Slite 14 displays will be divided across indoor and outdoor locations, with a 25 square meter display used indoor and 25 square meter and 50 square meter displays used at outdoor locations in and around the stadium.
The remaining three orders are for installations at the Furth Stadium in Furth Germany (28 square meters Slite 14 outdoor LED), the multi-purpose Odessa stadium in Odessa, Ukraine (24 square meters ILite 12 indoor LED) and the Leiria Stadium in Leiria, Portugal (106 square meters Slite 14 outdoor LED).
Barco Media Division manager Nico Vernieuwe said, "We pride ourselves on the system integrity of our sports display solutions. Whether our clients need a simple fascia-board solution or a full-fledged indoor and outdoor display solution, Barco provides them with the products, software control and support needed to turn their facility into a total entertainment experience."
Barco's sports solutions are found in stadiums across the globe. Using the highest quality standards, the various components of Barco's sport solution adhere to the strictest imaging standards.