AT&T Announces Completion of High-Tech Upgrades at the Home of the U.S. Olympic Movement
Multimillion-Dollar Technology Program at Colorado Springs U.S. Olympic Training Center Powers Remote Coaching, Distance E-Learning, Other Capabilities
New Tools Give U.S. Athletes Competitive Training Edge at One-Year Countdown to Olympic Games
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Aug. 8 - U.S. Olympic Team sponsor AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) have announced the completion of a major technology upgrade to USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs, giving athletes, coaches and staff access to world-class communications technology. The upgrade offers a competitive edge for U.S. athletes as they train for the 2008 Olympic Games, which begin one year from today in Beijing. AT&T will provide enhanced access to remote coaching and distance e-learning capabilities, as well as future applications such as telemedicine, all powered by the AT&T network.
The upgrade, which includes the implementation of wireline and wireless infrastructure and Long Distance and data services, is part of a $3 million effort by AT&T that will make available enhanced communications services at the three U.S. Olympic Training Centers (OTCs), located in Colorado Springs; Chula Vista, Calif.; and Lake Placid, N.Y.
Additionally, the second AT&T Athlete Connections Center debuts today in Colorado Springs and provides a place for athletes to enjoy state-of-the-art AT&T entertainment and communications services as part of their rest and recovery program. The first AT&T Athlete Connections Center opened at the Chula Vista OTC in March of this year. The centers feature Wi-Fi service, wireless services, AT&T | DISH Network and AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet service, which enables convenient, fast and reliable access to e-mail services and online gaming.
A Network for Trainers and Athletes
At the three OTCs across the U.S., staff, coaches and athletes can now take advantage of high speed, high-performance networking that can help reshape the training landscape for the U.S. Olympic Team. The AT&T network gives users the ability to transfer video files easily from dorm rooms, gyms and playing fields. AT&T's network enables real-time performance analysis and allows athletes to get immediate feedback, whether the coach is with the athlete at the time or on the other side of the continent.
AT&T's infrastructure also enables distance e-learning capabilities for the many athletes who are pursuing academic degrees while training for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The United States Olympic Committee wants to improve performance and productivity, and that's precisely where AT&T's technology has a major impact," said Cathy Coughlin, AT&T's Global Marketing officer. "We are thrilled to be part of the team and proud to support America's Olympic and Paralympic athletes' efforts to achieve their dreams."
"We are excited to continue our relationship with AT&T as we prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games," said Jim Scherr, USOC chief executive officer. "The AT&T solutions installed at our U.S. Olympic Training Centers are not only providing athletes with the tools to improve training and schoolwork but also enabling them to stay connected to family and friends, which is critical in helping athletes stay motivated throughout long months of training."
The core of AT&T's network deployed at the Olympic Training Centers is an Internet Protocol (IP)-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) that supports all of the key administrative systems for the OTCs, including e-mail, event management, databases and record-keeping. To help athletes and staff make maximum use of the capabilities, AT&T designed the network to be accessible virtually everywhere - on campus or off.
Wireline and Wireless Internet
All coaching and USOC staff offices and athlete dorm rooms are equipped with hard-wired Internet connections that provide broadband access to the OTC network developed by AT&T, as well as to the World Wide Web, e-mail, and text messaging.
AT&T also designed a wireless network for the OTCs so that athletes and their coaches can access the specially developed network while they are at training venues or elsewhere. This allows a coach, for example, to capture video or stills of the athletes in the field and then upload the images from a laptop to the network for later analysis or immediately forward them to another coach for evaluation via Web-chat.
USOC staff, as well as coaches and athletes, can also collaborate with distant colleagues without leaving the training facility. AT&T videoconferencing services let them instantly set up face-to-face meetings via videoconference.
Full Connections from the Road
The OTC network supports staffers, athletes and coaches when they are away from campus for competitions or conferences. Using wireless and wired Internet connections, they can link to the network remotely to access information, exchange e-mail, upload video and use the network just as if they were on-site. To protect these remote communications, AT&T provides an advanced "tunneling" technology that creates a secured path back to the OTC network.
Ongoing Support for the USOC
AT&T provides the USOC with products and services to help ensure that its business needs are continually met, including:
o AT&T OneNet® Service. This integrated long distance, data service and
audio/videoconferencing portfolio allows Team USA and the USOC to
quickly and easily call a meeting from virtually anywhere via
telephone, the Web or video.
o VPN Tunneling Service Remote Access. This gives the USOC the ability to
access its network off-site securely anytime, anywhere (of particular
importance for staff, coaches and athletes who travel extensively for
various competitions).
o Wireless Communications. These are for mobile phones, PDAs and other
devices - and include international coverage.
AT&T is an official partner of the U.S. Olympic Team. It provides the team with financial support, products and services. AT&T also serves as the official telecommunications services partner of the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation's leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/.
About the USOC
The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.
FCMN Contact: rolf.gatlin@fleishman.com
Source: AT&T Inc.
CONTACT:
Joe Izbrand of AT&T Corporate Communication, Office,
+1-210-352-6973,
jizbrand@attnews.us;
or Nicole Saunches of United States Olympic Committee, Office,
+1-719-866-2236, or
Mobile,
+1-719-502-7035,
nicole.saunches@usoc.org
