Noise injection for silent arena
FAKE crowd noise will be used during the broadcast of the Australian Open in a bid to inject atmosphere into games.
Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley on Sunday said the sound effects would be added to televised games after a “very silent” atmosphere was broadcast to fans stuck at home on the first day of lockdown.
“Today we will amplify the sounds for our fans,” he said.
“You will see a very different look at Rod Laver, we’ve been skinning the seats a bit differently overnight just to completely upgrade the experience for everyone.”
Tiley also flagged the possible inclusion of crowd noise for the benefit of the players.
“We’re also looking at potentially doing it in-stadium for the players as well, not just for the fans at home,” he said.
“Not only the sound of the audience, and everyone enjoying winning a point or losing a point but also just the general background noise – it makes a difference.”
Players including Australian world No.1 Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur played in empty stadiums on Saturday as an eerie quiet descended on Melbourne Park.
THE Taliban on Saturday warned NATO against seeking a “continuation of war”, as the alliance weighs a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Defence ministers from the Washington-backed allies are to meet next week to discuss whether NATO’s 10,000strong mission – mostly carrying out support roles – should stay or go, as Taliban violence rages.
“Our message to the upcoming NATO ministerial meeting is that the continuation of occupation and war is neither in your interest nor in the interest of your and our people,” the Taliban said.
“Anyone seeking extension of wars and occupation will be held liable for it just like the previous two decades.”
Former US president Donald Trump struck a deal with the Taliban last year under which the US agreed foreign troops would leave Afghanistan by May 2021 in return for conditions including cutting ties with al-Qaeda and opening peace talks with Kabul.
President Joe Biden’s team has said it would review the deal, with the Pentagon accusing the insurgent group of not meeting its commitment to reduce violence.