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Sotic and ISAF link up to produce Olympic microsite

30 July 2008, 8:27 am

By Jonathan McConnell

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has again teamed up with Sotic to launch their new Olympic Games microsite at www.sailing.org/olympics, bringing sports fans around the world unrivalled coverage of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The new ISAF Olympic Games microsite will provide an online home for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition and get closer than ever to the action over 8-24 August as 400 sailors compete across 11 events. Visitors to www.sailing.org/olympics will find comprehensive coverage of the Olympic sailing events including live mark-by-mark roundings and results from every race, daily galleries featuring the best photography from the Games, full details on every competing sailor, nations and event, a complete database of Olympic sailing results and all the latest news and features direct from Qingdao.

The site includes details of all 400 sailors and 62 nations competing at the Beijing games and will be updated daily with comprehensive previews for each of the 11 Olympic sailing events. Fans can also discover more on the 'behind the scenes' stories that make the Olympic Games such a unique sporting event, whilst those new to the sport can read ISAF's simple guide to sailing. For the media, there is quick and easy access to all the essential details in the no-frills media centre.

Jerome Pels, ISAF Secretary General and one of two Technical Delegates for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, said, "The Olympic Games is a unique event in the sporting calendar and a great opportunity for ISAF and the sailing world in general to showcase the sport. Working with our internet provides Sotic to combine information available from BOCOG's data feed, our news service and world class photography from Getty Images along with all the information already available on the ISAF website, we'll be presenting sailing to the world in the most attractive and accessible way possible. Most of all we hope the ISAF Olympic Games microsite captures and celebrates the unique spirit of Olympic Games and its status as the ultimate sporting event."

The ISAF Olympic Games microsite features individual 'home pages' for each of the 11 Olympic sailing events and every one of the 62 competing nations so fans can follow the key action at the Games no matter what perspective. The event and nation pages will feature live information from the data feed provided by the Organising Committee of the Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG) once the sailing competition gets underway including all the overall standings, as well as individual race details, including mark by mark roundings and weather information. All details on protests and on the water rulings will also be available to view online along with complete details of the team of International Technical Officials who will ensure fair play on the water.

Leo Mindel, Sotic's Technical Director said, "SOTIC are delighted to have worked with ISAF in producing this microsite for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition. We have worked in close liaison with ISAF's Media and Marketing team to ensure that the online needs of competitors at the games and the wider sailing community have been matched up with the best technology available. All the action from Qingdao; including live race data, news, features, and pictures, will be available as it happens to sailing enthusiasts throughout the world, www.sailing.org/olympics will be the 'must have' web address for everyone who wishes to follow the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition."

During the Games, daily photo galleries will be provided by the world class photographers at Getty Images, who will be appointed as Official Photographers to ISAF for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. News will come in directly off the five race courses and the ISAF news team will also be reporting from Qingdao, bringing to life some of the inside stories at the Games. The Olympic Games microsite also provides a wealth of background information, including a full history of Olympic sailing including compete results and medal table for every Olympic Sailing Competition ever held. Fans can also find out more about the qualification events, details on the sailors competing on Olympic Solidarity Scholarship programmes, whilst for coaches and competitors there is a comprehensive guide to the Anti-Doping procedures at the Games.