Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships - IiNet gives an edge

by Richard Palfreyman - Perth 2011 on 31 Jan 2011 Australia’s second largest DSL provider, iiNet, today joined the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships as telecommunications partner and Silver level sponsor.

The world’s best Olympic class sailors are competing in Perth 3 -18 December for their sport’s world titles and to qualify for next year’s London 2012 Olympic Games.

As one of the biggest international events ever held in WA, the Perth2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships will depend on iiNet expertise to both provide communication technology for organisers and competitors, while bringing the event to a world audience via the internet.

Michael Malone, Chief Executive Officer of iiNet, said the services provided in the International Broadcast Centre and the nearby Media Centre in Fremantle will enable Journalists and broadcasters to accurately cover the complexities of the ten racing fleets, 850 boats and 1400 athletes taking part in the year’s biggest international sailing event.

'iiNet may have grown to become the second largest DSL internet company in Australia, but this is our home. We were understandably excited to be chosen as the communications partner for Perth 2011 and to use our expertise to promote our home city on the world stage,' Mr Malone said.

Perth 2011 Chief Operating Officer (COO) Darren Beazley said the digital platforms provided by iiNet would carry the new and innovative technology that allowed officials, the media and the public to follow closely the sport of sailing.

'The racing fleets can now be followed by the Swiss Timing tracking system that shows the position of each boat on a computer or television screen', Mr. Beazley said. 'The internet can also stream live television pictures and commentary from the course. New media such as live blogs, facebook and Twitter will also keep the athletes and general public in close touch with the event. '

As Australia’s second largest DSL Internet Service Provider (ISP), iiNet is a Western Australian success story.

Founded in a suburban garage eighteen years ago, the company now employs almost 2000 people and supports more than 1.3 million broadband, telephony and internet television services across the country.

Eventscorp Executive Director David Van Ooran said it was fantastic to see a WA business supporting such an important event for WA.

'The Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships will be the biggest sailing event in this State since the America’s Cup defence. The benefits, both social and economic, to the State will be enormous. It is great news that a home-grown WA company is lending its support in this way.'

The 5-thousand visitors expected to travel to Perth for the 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships are estimated to bring economic benefits of 41-million dollars.

Perth 2011 website