ARLA/CLUSTER: 16 locais escolhidos para o World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2014

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

16 New England communities to host International Radiosport competition

The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) organizers have selected
16 New England communities as operating sites to host its 7th
quadrennial radiosport competition, the first held in the United
States since 1996.

>From July 9 through 14, the world’s top amateur radio operators will
converge on towns spanning the Route 495 corridor for the “Olympiad of
amateur radio,” WRTC2014. Previous WRTC competitions have been held in
Seattle (1990), San Francisco (1996), Slovenia (2000), Finland (2002),
Brazil (2006), and Russia (2010).

WRTC2014 pits 59 two-operator all-star amateur radio teams,
representing 38 countries, in a battle of operating skill and strategy
under emergency field conditions, for personal and national pride on a
world stage. Similar to Olympic athletes, competitors hone their
skills for superior performance through mental and physical
conditioning, talent, skill and strategy. This form of competition
evolved as a method of practicing emergency communication, but also
serves as a laboratory for technology innovation and experimentation,
much like other technical sports, such as motor sports or sailing.

Operating sites for WRTC2014 include private properties, state parks
and other state- and town-owned facilities in Mansfield, Wrentham,
Devens, Assonet, Berkley, Dighton, Pepperell, Hollis (NH), East
Taunton, Plymouth, Carver, Leominster, Medfield, Cohasset, Hingham and
Norwell, each carefully selected to establish a level playing field.

Competing teams were selected from around the world in a series of 55
qualifying events over a 3-year period. Just earning a spot in the
competition is a prestigious accomplishment for every competitor,
allowing them to represent their country and have the opportunity to
win a coveted place on the podium.

WRTC2014 teams will compete to contact other amateur radio stations in
countries around the globe using both voice and Morse code
transmissions. Top teams will operate without sleep for the entire
24-hour competition in an effort to contact as many stations and
countries as possible, pursuing the highest score, to earn the
distinction of “the best in the world.” Top level radiosport
enthusiasts originate from all walks of life and a variety of
professions. It is common for technology CEOs, emergency room
physicians, retired diplomats, members of the military, and engineers
to each compete on a level playing field with university students,
bankers, grocery store managers or antique dealers.

Amateur Radio, or “ham radio” as it is often called, enables licensed
participants to use short wave frequencies to communicate with peers
from around the world. Licensed “hams” in the United States are
authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to use their
radio equipment to talk anywhere on earth, using different “modes of
operation” such as voice, Morse code, or any of several digital modes,
also pioneered within the ham radio community. Today, there are more
licensed amateur radio operators than ever before - over 700,000 in
the U.S. alone, in addition to more than a million operators around
the world. Radio amateurs are prohibited by law from accepting
compensation of any kind for any activities they perform as radio
operators. Everyone involved in WRTC2014 is participating purely for
the love of the sport.

“WRTC2014 is much more than an international sporting competition,”
shares Randy Thompson, WRTC2014 Co-Chairman. “It is also an
opportunity for these great operators to meet each other, often for
the first time, after years of radio contacts. It also allows radio
amateurs within New England to interact with some of the top operators
from around the globe, and to demonstrate the international appeal of
amateur radio.”

Returning to the United States after 18 years, WRTC2014 gathers
competitors, referees, and visitors from around the world to connect
and celebrate amateur radio. Westborough’s DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
serves as team village, headquarters, and the venue for the WRTC2014
opening and closing ceremonies. Hundreds of spectating visitors are
also expected to attend, taking advantage of the rare opportunity to
network with amateur radio luminaries worldwide, while enjoying the
surrounding area’s rich history and regional charm. On the global
scale, thousands more will “tune in” and participate over the
airwaves, and follow the event’s real-time Internet scoreboard to stay
abreast of competition results. The largest “radiosport” competitions
draw activity from over 20,000 participants and can collectively
include more than two million two-way contacts – all in one weekend.

Amateur radio plays a key role as a critical emergency service in
times of disaster when other forms of communication fail. Locally,
this was demonstrated after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, when
cellular networks were overloaded and failed. Amateur radio operators
have assisted in providing communication services to the Marathon for
many years, and were on hand to provide vital communications for
Marathon volunteers following the bombing. Critical communication
services were also provided by hams during the aftermath of 9/11 and
Hurricane Katrina. Radio amateurs have been involved in the front
lines of developing modern communications systems, including the
fundamental technology used in all cell phones.

2014 also marks the centennial anniversary of the founding of the
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) – the national association for
amateur radio in the United States. ARRL assists people in obtaining
their amateur radio license and promotes the wide variety of interests
within the hobby. The ARRL will hold its national convention weekend
following WRTC2014 in Hartford, CT. WRTC2014 is recognized by ARRL as
a centennial celebration activity. Many WRTC participants and visitors
are expected to stay in the area to attend both events.

Information about ARRL is available at www.arrl.org