Cochin, India - 11 December 2008 -- As part of continuing efforts to forge new paths at the forefront of technology, the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race are excited to announce a new initiative that harnesses the power of Google Earth to display the rich multimedia content, which is sent off the boats as they race around the world.
With the teams carrying an embedded media crew member for the first time in the 35 year history of the race, more content is being shot, recorded and written than ever before.
Much of this is currently available on the official race websites, www.volvooceanrace.org and www.volvooceanrace.tv. In addition, the mobile portal, m.volvooceanrace.org means you need never leave the race - all the information is as close as your mobile phone.
Now, using the power of Google Earth, you can see, hear and read what the embedded media crew members and their team mates are experiencing as it's posted in Google Earth. It's another way to get the content from the race out to the public using the latest technology tools while at the same time adding another layer of context to the raw content.
"This is yet another tool, another option for fans of the race," says Andrew Ferguson, the Head of Technology and New Media for the Volvo Ocean Race. "In this case, we're using the power of Google Earth to provide an accurate representation of each leg through the media the sailors are providing."
To follow the Volvo Ocean Race on Google Earth, fans need to visit the Volvo Ocean Race website www.volvooceanrace.org/Multimedia/google, where they can download the Google Earth data file, (the ‘KML' file), and find help and instructions in order to get started.
Leg three of the Volvo Ocean Race is scheduled to start from Cochin, India on Saturday, 13 December at 1000 GMT. The fleet is racing to Singapore, where they will spend the holiday season before restarting and continuing their 37000 nautical mile lap of the planet.
For the latest news, positions, feature stories, images and video, please visit www.VolvoOceanRace.org
For media information on the Volvo Ocean Race, please contact:
Sophie Luther - International Press Officer (English)
Mob: +44 7595 116 797
Email: sophie.luther@VolvoOceanRace.org
Beatriz Pastor - Media Relations Manager (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese)
Mob: +44 7590 711 715
Email: beatriz.pastor@VolvoOceanRace.org
Lizzie (Green) Ward - Senior Race Press Officer (Race HQ - UK)
Tel: +44 1489 554 832: Mob: +44 7801 185 320
Email: lizzie.ward@VolvoOceanRace.org
Full press information can be read and downloaded from: http://press.volvooceanrace.org
Images
High resolution images can be downloaded from: http://images.volvooceanrace.org
Tim Stonton, Picture Desk Manager Email: images@VolvoOceanRace.org
Tel: +44 1489 554 867 Mob: +44 7816 975 355
Broadcast
For broadcast-standard video, please go to: www.thenewsmarket.com
If you are a first-time user, please take a moment to register.
For assistance, please Email: journalisthelp@thenewsmarket.com
Radio/Audio
For all radio reports/interviews audio requests, please contact:
Guy Swindells (English)
Mob: +44 7710 295 995, Email: guy.swindells@VolvoOceanRace.org or
Amanda Blackley (English, Spanish and French)
Mob: +44 7548 543 215, Email: amanda.blackley@VolvoOceanRace.org
For media accreditation, please go to www.volvooceanrace.org/press-centre
To receive the latest positions and breaking news on your mobile, text "RACE" to +46 737 49 49 49.
To see the latest race videos, visit www.VolvoOceanRace.tv
About the Volvo Ocean Race
Full race schedule:
o Alicante, Spain - Start: 11.10.08
o Cape Town, South Africa - Re-start: 15.11.08
o Cochin, India - Re-start: 13.12.08
o Singapore - Re-start: 18.01.09
o Qingdao, China - Re-start: 14.02.09
o Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Re-start: 11.04.09
o Boston, USA - Re-start: 16.05.09
o Galway, Ireland - Re-start: 06.06.09
o Göteborg/Marstrand, Sweden - Re-start: 14.06.09
o Stockholm, Sweden - Re-start:25.06.09
o St. Petersburg, Russia - ETA for finish: 27.06.09
