'The Everest of racing'

HCL Technologies, the global IT services provider, is backing the Volvo Ocean Race as official IT services provider – developing and delivering IT solutions for the 2017-18 edition of the 45,000 nautical mile race around the world.

The partnership provides a unique opportunity for HCL, which boasts extensive infrastructure and offices in 32 countries, to work in collaboration with the race to deliver a world-class IT platform, helping fans follow the boats during their eight-month ocean marathon and at Host Cities around the world.

The IT infrastructure being built in collaboration with HCL will be the backbone of Volvo Ocean Race’s streaming and TV production for key events such as arrivals, departures and the In-Port Race series.

In addition, the delivery will include vital features such as inter-site connectivity at the race’s global stopovers, digital content delivery, mobile data centres and infrastructure with full redundancy, Wi-Fi networks, and multimedia facilities for media centres and race offices. HCL will provide end-to-end IT support in setting up the Race Villages in all 12 stopovers, enabling Volvo Ocean Race to provide a great viewing experience to its fans as they follow the boats during the offshore legs, and stopovers at Host Cities around the world.

Volvo Ocean Race CEO Mark Turner said: “The upcoming edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will be more digitally focused than ever before. Connecting the expected 3 million Race Village visitors, the 5,000 accredited journalists and our millions of fans around the world is an immense task. Building the complex IT infrastructure that we use for this around the world is a huge challenge, and we’re confident that this partnership with HCL Technologies will allow us to provide fans, media and stakeholders with a more connected experience than ever before.”

The upcoming edition of the Volvo Ocean Race will be more digitally focused than ever before

Mark Turner

At a projected 45,000 nautical miles, and featuring three times as many Southern Ocean miles as in previous editions, the 2017-18 race promises to be one of the most extreme yet.

“We are excited to be supporting such a momentous event in the extreme sporting calendar. The Volvo Ocean Race has become the Everest of racing; representing a life-changing experience for the crews and teams that take part,” said Ashish Gupta, Corporate Vice President & Head of EMEA, HCL Technologies.

The Volvo Ocean Race has become the Everest of racing

Ashish Gupta, HCL

“HCL teams from around the world will come together and work tirelessly to drive a world-class, experience for the millions of race followers, who will be using the latest digital technologies to get closer than ever to the action.”

The partnership furthers HCL’s credentials in the sporting arena and follows the company’s global engagement with Manchester United where HCL was selected as the club’s official ‘digital partner’.

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