Rush the ‘Net at Wimbledon 1998 with IBM
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WHITE PLAINS, NY (June 17, 1998) – Sports fans and tennis enthusiasts around the world will be rushing the ‘Net again this year to experience the sights, sounds and color of the 1998 Wimbledon Tennis Championships now live at http://www.wimbledon.org. For the fourth consecutive year The All England Lawn Tennis Club and IBM are collaborating to produce the official Wimbledon Web site. The official 1998 site is expected to be more popular than the 1997 Web site that recorded 60 million hits.
So whether you want to purchase official Wimbledon merchandise, keep up to date with the latest scores or follow your favorite players’ progress, the official Championship Web site offers the most comprehensive information on the Web.
As Official Information Technology Supplier and Consultant since 1990, IBM has brought up-to-the minute scores and results to a global audience continuing to help increase Wimbledon’s status in the sporting calendar.
“IBM plays a vital supporting role at Wimbledon each year,” said Chris Gorringe, Chief Executive of the All England Club. “Its contribution is substantial, and as we approach the new millennium, Wimbledon is fully embracing solutions made possible by information technology.
“The development of the Club’s Web site has created a completely new way for people to experience Wimbledon and the site’s global audience has grown every year since it was launched in 1995.”
Fans can follow every match during the tournament thanks to a constantly updated results system and securely purchase Wimbledon merchandise from the Club’s on-line shop. The store is fitted with IBM’s Net.Commerce technology for secure shopping, enabling Web visitors to purchase silk ties, shoulder bags, racket back packs, official posters, the Wimbledon Annual, programs, and official videos.
The official Wimbledon Web site is an opportunity to showcase the types of e-business solutions IBM is implementing for customers in a variety of industries.
“In effect, Wimbledon operates much like an e-business by interlinking its different systems to operate in an integrated electronic world,” said Tom Burke, Director of Sports Sponsorships, IBM. “Not only is merchandise being sold on the Web, information is being shared to create a truly digital working environment, similar to those IBM is helping to develop for customers all over the world.”
Other highlights of the official Wimbledon Web site will include:
A Java Scoreboard, which will be updated court-by-court and can be downloaded as a desktop console;
Radio Wimbledon, featuring live audio from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (UK time) daily during the tournament. Fans will be able to submit questions over the official Web site via the “Ask the Experts at Radio Wimbledon” section. Selected questions will be answered live on the air each night.
iCam, a truly interactive Web experience allowing fans to take their own snapshots. Two user controlled interactive cameras, one on center court, one on the North end of the grounds at Wimbledon may be directed by visitors to the official Web site. Users can choose where to point and how much to zoom in or out then take a snapshot which is returned to their PC.
Net Cam, which features periodic still images of play on Centre Court, Court One and six show courts. Images are updated every 60 seconds.
Post Match Interviews, hear post match interviews via a real-time, streaming audio feed from the press room at Wimbledon. Available from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. (UK time) each day of the tournament.
Trivia, fans can test their Wimbledon knowledge and register to win official Wimbledon merchandise.
The official Web site of the 1998 Wimbledon Championships was designed hosted and powered by IBM for the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Hosted on the IBM Global Network, the site is served up by IBM RS/6000 SPs using Lotus Notes client and Lotus Domino server software, the same winning combination that powered the official Olympic Winter Games to world records for a sporting event on the Internet.
IBM is dedicated to helping customers including many of the world’s premier professional sports organizations, leverage the value of the Internet and e-business.
Source: IBM