SOS Global Overcomes Weather, Distance at Asian Winter Games

IGBS is providing host broadcast services and SOS Global is providing International Freight Logistics for the seventh-annual Asian Winter Games beginning on Sunday, Jan. 30 in Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Months of meticulous planning by the IGBS team and SOS Global project managers for these Games was capped on Jan 19 when their chartered 747 landed at Almaty airport in -20 ºC  weather and 80-plus tons of gear was unloaded for distribution to venues throughout the country.  This was the final move in what was a month-long project that brought over 160 tons of gear air freighted to Kazakhstan.

SOS Global project manager, Jeff Lingerfelt, and his crew delivering equipment 3,163 meters high at Chimbulak Ski Resort

SOS Global then managed the distribution of this gear to venues throughout Kazakhstan. Many venues posed unique logistical challenges, including delivering equipment in snow cats to a new record height for SOS Global project manager, Jeff Lingerfelt, of 3,163 meters at the Chimbulak Ski Resort.

Unseasonably warm (from +10 ºC  to  -30 ºC ) temperatures in Almaty have both helped and hindered at venues.  With the onsite coordination by SOS Global project managers and 24/7 operations teams in the UK and USA, all the necessary gear has been delivered despite the weather and distance challenges.

SOS Global Express was awarded the International Freight Logistics contract for the Games in 2010.

“This seventh Asian Winter Games provides a number of specific challenges,” says Peter Angell, IGBS Project Director – Overall Management. “And we felt that a boutique logistics company like SOS Global was the right fit to service our needs and we have been proven right.”

Stephen O’Connell, SOS Global VP, says “The Winter Games project was never going to be an ordinary in and out operation, but our people have worked tirelessly since last year to ensure the successful operation from start to finish.  I am extremely proud of the effort that has been put into this to date and thrilled with the opportunity we have been given to excel by IGBS”.

With the Opening Ceremonies just a few days away, the SOS Global Team is already working on the finishing touches to ensure a smooth return of their 747F charter and all the other gear headed home and on to other events worldwide.

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