Bobsleigh

3AIT Limited is proud to be a Corporate Sponsor of the British Bobsleigh Team as they fly the nation's flag across the icy landscapes of Europe and the Americas.

Here at 3aIT, we have chosen to provide sponsorship to the British Bobsleigh Team - BobteamGB. While Great Britain can't claim to be the Home of Bobsleigh - it has a strong claim to being the founder of the sport by a group of Englishmen on holiday in Switzerland in 1890. The British Bobsleigh Association was formed in 1927 in New York as the UK Governing Body for the sport. In 1980 the Association was incorporated to become the British Bobsleigh Association Ltd. The Federation International de Bobsleigh et Tobogganing (FIBT) controls the sports at all international events and are based in Milan, Italy. Within the UK we have close links with UK Sport, Sport England and the British Olympic Association and receive funds through Exchequer and the Lottery Unit (World Class Performance Plan).

Bobteam GB is a remarkable team of dedicated sportsmen and women who are preparing for the Winter Olympics in 2010. Bobsleigh is Britain's most successful winter team sport, although we have yet to repeat the Gold medal achieved by Tony Nash and Robin Dixon in the 1964 Olympics. However in the 1998 Olympics the GB1 4-man team consisting of Sean Olsson, Dean Ward, Paul Attwood and Courtney Rumbolt won Bronze.

We are proud to be able to contribute our breadth of expertise to a sport that mirrors our own corporate ethos. This is a sport that competitively takes advantage of technology and equipment, harnessing the talents of a committed squad.

In preparation for the Winter Olympic Games 2010, we provide our commitment and support to this world-class bobsleigh squad, enthusiasts and fellow sponsors to position the sport as a nation's Olympic Pride in Vancouver in 2010. Most excitingly all our efforts are now focused on helping the squad achieve their goals up to and beyond 2010.

Described as "Formula 1 on Ice; Dynamic; Exhilarating" the bobsleigh hurtles at a speed of 130 km per hour down a 1300m ice track.

SO WHAT DOES 3AIT DO FOR BOBTEAM GB?

In 2005 British no 1 women's "brakeman" and World Championship Silver Medallist Jackie Davies had voiced concern on behalf of the elite athletes that the communications difficulties inherent in a nomadic season with a remote battery of specialist coaches and advisors in the UK were giving a growing advantage to teams from "ice nations" such as Switzerland, USA, Russia and Germany who have such support on hand. The Board of the British Bobsleigh Association has moved rapidly to address these issues and recruited the aid of a major sponsor in the process. 3aIT has built a web-based system to enable the team to keep in touch with each other, their specialist coaches, their headquarters and their families while they travel around the world during their 5 month tour of ice training and competition. The same 3a-Comms System enables World Class athletes to train at home during the off-season with daily on-line training schedules, feedback and monitoring.

The "3a-Comms" system has put the Team on the right track and is tipped to have a significant impact on the Team's prospects for Vancouver 2010.

Roger Clark, the CEO of 3aIT, cites the professionalism of the Elite athletes as the hook that secured his companies' involvement. "Bobsleigh is infectious - there's no doubt about that. It's an outstanding vehicle for corporate hospitality with tangible returns on sponsorship investment. But primarily our decision was based on the belief that - given the right support - we have in our top athletes the ability to take on the world. If World Class Performance requires World Class Support Services then 3aIT and its partners are committed to delivering those services for the next 5 years."

The online training schedules and live updates are as close as it is possible to get to having coaches and advisors with the team. The athletes are much more confident about competing in the years ahead with the "ice nations". With the new communications systems there is a real buzz about the sport - everyone knows about what is going on and the latest developments back home - and everyone can contribute!"

In the quest for medals at the highest level in this sport, communication is one of the major hurdles to overcome. The 3a-Comms System provides tremendous support both on the circuit or at home. This system has given us a level playing field; we owe 3aIT an enormous debt of gratitude for helping to put us on the right track to Vancouver in 2010." Great Britain is pre-eminent amongst "non-ice nations" - with a long history of success in World Championships and Olympics - including Gold for Dixon and Nash in 1964 and Bronze for Sean Olsson's 4-Man in 1998. With the British public's warm attachment to the sport of Bobsleigh eyes will be watching in anticipation of medal prospects at the next Winter Olympics.