Virtual Spectator launches new 3D animations for the America’s Cup

New Zealand’s leading interactive sports entertainment company, Virtual Spectator has today launched its premium 3D service for the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup.

Virtual Spectator will provide the only medium to watch all 120 Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup races live and on demand via the Internet. It has also licenced its technology to ARL who will provide the service for television.

Virtual Spectator gives viewers the ability to choose how they watch the races including upwind, downwind, from the top of a mast, from a helicopter or from the helm. It also provides streaming text to explain tactics and race details for each challenge.

Newly appointed Chief Executive, Greg Young says the premium 3D animation, which was first available via the Internet in 1999/2000, has been significantly enhanced for the 2002/2003 America’s Cup.

“Viewers will be able to enjoy more realistic and detailed views of the racing boats and a full 3D animation of the Hauraki Gulf showing each day’s weather conditions in real time.”

Greg Young says that a range of other enhancements have extended Virtual Spectator’s reach to a wider global audience.

“This year we will be able to provide a richer 3D experience in Italian and French as well as English. Viewers will also enjoy improved international performance thanks to a data distribution partnership with Akamai which has up to 16,000 servers in 60 countries.”

A multi currency ecommerce system will make it easier for international sports fans to subscribe to Virtual Spectator, paying their $US24.95 subscription in US dollars, Euro, Sterling or New Zealand dollars.

The launch of the new graphics coincides with today’s announcement that Virtual Spectator has signed a partnership deal with SAP, the world’s leading provider of e-business software solutions.

This follows earlier deals that Virtual Spectator has signed with Yahoo! to manage the marketing and distribution of the official website (www.louisvuittoncup.yahoo.com), Italian portal Virgilio, Hewlett Packard, Louis Vuitton and UBS among others.

Greg Young says he expects Virtual Spectator to attract around 100,000 internet subscriptions for the Louis Vuitton and America’s Cup regattas, almost double the last event.

“The new graphics further emphasise Virtual Spectator’s leadership position in the field of interactive sports entertainment products,” says Greg.