Manolo Romero

Manolo Romero was a legendary personality in the field of sports broadcasting and telecommunications engineering. He was the founder of Olympic Broadcasting Services and a former member of several International Federations TV Commissions, including International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF, also known as World Athletics) and FINA, amongst others.

Manolo held leadership roles for the TV host operations on all Olympic Games since 1984, including the Winter Games. And, as each Olympics production grew in technical complexity, helping popularise formats like HDTV or stereo (or even color TV) on a global scale, Romero invented the host-broadcast concept.

Romero's legacy in sports broadcasting was particularly notable during the Olympics. He played pivotal roles in various Olympic Games, beginning with the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. His leadership extended to overseeing the international broadcast operations during the 1982 World Cup held in Spain and directing the international broadcast operations for ABC during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Recognised as a visionary in the industry, Romero went on to establish Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), contributing to the successful coverage of multiple Olympic Games, including Beijing in 2008 and London 2012. 

Manolo Romero, a distinguished figure in the realm of sports broadcasting, hailed from Sevilla, Spain. His educational journey led him to the University of Madrid, where he pursued a degree in telecommunications engineering with a minor in economics, laying the groundwork for a career that would revolutionize international sports broadcasting.

Commencing his professional journey in 1965, Romero joined the engineering department of the Spanish TV network TVE. His expertise and leadership qualities quickly propelled him to the position of chair for an EBU working group focused on the international exchange of TV programs via satellite. This pivotal role marked the inception of his extensive collaboration with broadcasters worldwide, especially in the arena of major sports events.

Manolo Romero's inaugural involvement in the Olympic Games occurred in Mexico City in 1968. His career trajectory reached new heights in 1982 when he assumed responsibility for Spanish Television operations during the World Cup hosted in Spain. In 1984, he joined ABC as the Director of international operations for the Los Angeles Olympics, setting the stage for the host-broadcast model.

Romero's significant contributions continued with his pivotal role in the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. In 1994, he founded European Sports International, a company owned by the EBU, overseeing its coverage of the U.S. World Cup. Romero's leadership extended to the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, where he established International Sports Broadcasting (ISB) in 1997, serving as its President and CEO.

Under his guidance, ISB became the host broadcaster for prestigious events, including the 1999 World Alpine Skiing Championship in Vail, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. His visionary leadership expanded to the Paralympics in Salt Lake City, Athens, and Torino.

In 2003, Manolo Romero assumed the role of CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), culminating in the successful broadcast of the Torino Winter Games in 2006. His indelible mark on the Summer Games was evident in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where OBS, under his leadership, delivered more than 5,000 hours of television coverage in high definition and 5.1 surround sound—a historic achievement in Summer Games broadcast coverage.

Manolo passed away in December 2022, at the age of 81, following a battle with cancer. His daughter, Úrsula Romero, is now the CEO of International Sports Broadcasting.

Manolo Romero, a visionary leader in the field of sports broadcasting, aspired to revolutionise the way global audiences experienced major sporting events. His vision encompassed the seamless integration of cutting-edge telecommunications engineering and economic principles into the world of television broadcasting. Romero played a pivotal role in establishing innovative broadcast models, notably during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where he laid the groundwork for the host-broadcast model. Over the years, his vision evolved with the founding of Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) and International Sports Broadcasting (ISB), aiming to redefine the standards of sports coverage. Romero's commitment to advancing the technological and operational aspects of broadcasting became evident in landmark events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where his leadership pioneered extensive high-definition coverage, setting new benchmarks in Summer Games broadcasting.