Australian Open 2011 Website Connects Fans To A Whole New Level

Written by: Staff on 17th December 2010

Australian Open 2011 Website Connects Fans To A Whole New Level |

The Official Australian Open tournament website – australianopen.com – developed in partnership with IBM, launched today connecting fans to Australian Open 2011 on a multitude of platforms.

The site’s riches are easily viewed on a range of mobile devices, as well as reaching fans on social media sites, Flickr and the popular video-sharing destination You Tube.

IBM’s POINTSTREAM takes the web visitor deep into each match, following the momentum of play and tracking key statistics such as service speed, rally count, service breaks, aces, unforced errors, winners and the likely outcome of each clash based on live data.

Match analysis and live text commentary features in MATCH CENTRE, where fans can interact via Facebook Connect and Twitter. The best Tweets will be prominently published on the home page of australianopen.com and the best fan blogs will be published in the new FAN CENTRE.

KIA FAN OF THE DAY is back to uncover the best-dressed fans on-site; the Australian Open’s major sponsor is also driving an exciting new feature, CAR CAM, where players are put under the grill as they are transported from their hotels to Melbourne Park in a KIA courtesy car.
Also showing on the web and giant screens around the grounds are a selection of the best entries in the popular Australian Open Short Film Festival – CHANGINGENDS – where budding film makers have been set the challenge of producing a 90-second film on the theme ‘Take Two.’

History buffs and stats enthusiasts will be able to analyze draws and Australian Open player results dating back to the beginning of the event in 1905 when Rodney Heath won the inaugural championships, joined in 1922 by the first women’s champion, Margaret Molesworth.
The website will stream live ball-by-ball commentary at AO RADIO from an international team of broadcasters, also available on Android, Blackberry and iPhones, as well as around the grounds on 99.7 FM.

Mobile viewers can access must-see content, including scores, draws, schedule and news, via http://m.australianopen.com/, while the popular Official Australian Open iPhone application returns with augmented reality via AOVIEW, presented by IBM.

Pointing their iPhone around the grounds, AOVIEW becomes a private viewfinder that identifies important Melbourne Park information including court directions, shopping outlets, transport and key venue landmarks.

Those with an iPad will be able to access the Official Australian Open program in a new, digitized format, which includes the entire AO program, as well as live data feeds, scores, weather, videos and the ability to capture and save player autographs using a finger for a pen. The website has also been optimized for iPad display.

Topics: Australian Open, Commentary Features, Courtesy Car, Fan Centre, Feature Car, Flickr, Giant Screens, History Buffs, Iphones, Key Statistics, Match Centre, Melbourne Park, Rally Count, Rodney Heath, Service Speed, Short Film Festival, Text Commentary, Tweets, Unforced Errors, Web Visitor

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

ruth drysdale says:

December 17, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Great! I look forward to Tennis playing a more prominent role in American sports, and part of it is more coverage.