Lenovo has announced that it will create and operate seven Internet `i.lounges` equipped with ThinkPad notebooks and ThinkCentre desktops at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games for athletes, coaches and trainers to stay in touch with their families and supporters. The custom-designed Lenovo i.lounges will be located in Olympic Villages in Torino, Sestriere and Bardonecchia, providing the highest ratio of personal computers to athletes in Olympic history.
"Athletes use personal computers in their everyday activities and expect to have these capabilities onsite during the Olympic Games," said Enrico Frascari, IT managing director, Torino Organising Committee for the Olympic Winter Games. "Demands for connectivity are even higher in 2006 than in previous Olympic Games, and the Lenovo i.lounges will play a major role in ensuring athletes, coaches, media and staff have easy access to information for a productive and positive experience in Torino."
Opening on January 31 and continuing until the Olympic Winter Games conclude on February 26, the Lenovo i.lounges will offer athletes, trainers, coaches and other members of the Olympic family a resource to remain productive in an upbeat, social environment. More than 165 ThinkPad and ThinkCentre workstations, with broadband Internet connection provided by Telecom Italia, will be included in the i.lounges. An additional Lenovo i.lounge will be located in the Main Press Centre, for use by journalists in central Torino.
"Internet lounges are important to athletes for two reasons," said Tora Berger, biathlete from Norway. "First, they provide an essential link for sharing my experience at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games with my family and friends back in Norway as well as colleagues throughout the world. Second, Internet lounges provide a great way for athletes to meet and to come together socially. All athletes want and need to share their experiences with friends and supporters, and Lenovo i.lounges will make it easy for them to do that."
Lenovo is also working with the United States Olympic Committee and other Olympic Games worldwide sponsors to create customised i.lounges that will support their Torino operations.
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