When Atila Ozkaplan, BHK 2001 and MSc 2004, arrived in Vancouver from Ontario in 1997, his goal was to become a doctor of Sports Medicine. However, his path shifted significantly when he volunteered with one of his professors, Dr. Ted Rhodes. He helped conduct fitness tests for elite sports teams, such as the Canucks, the Grizzlies, and Team Canada. Under Dr. Rhodes’ guidance, Atila completed a Masters in Exercise Physiology. He graduated in 2004, and immediately landed a job with the Canadian Olympic Committee as a Program Manager in Athlete & Community Relations.
Atila was surprised to find himself in this position, as he had graduated with a heavy focus in Science. However, he quickly began to utilize his scientific research; and analytical and critical thinking skills to solve daily business challenges.
He decided to pursue a career in major sport event management. He worked for the FIFA U20 World Cup Canada, the BC World Police & Fire Games, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. These opportunities ultimately led to a position with NBC Olympics during the Vancouver 2010 Games, working as a Production Logistics manager.
In 2013, he moved with his family to the NBC Sports Group headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. And today, Atila is the Vice President of Production Operations – Olympics. He oversees NBC’s operations at the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for the Olympic Games and oversees the set/studio builds for all other major sports events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl.
Atila will also be overseeing NBC’s IBC operations at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, which will mark his 7th Olympic Games. He and his team at NBC Olympics have been awarded 5 Sports Emmys. He was also honored as one of the 5 To Watch – Canada’s Sports Business Awards in 2017, recognizing the top sports business leaders in Canada under age 40.
Atila and his family have lived in Connecticut for 6 years now — he loves his job and works with the brightest minds in the business. He considers himself a lifelong learner and wishes to continue to grow in his career with the NBC Sports Group.
