I secretly touched the Webb Ellis Cup…
It was an early start this morning as Sarah R, Sharron and myself climbed out of our respective beds to manage a breakfast event for Microsoft New Zealand.
With the Webb Ellis Cup shining brightly, the camera crews lined up, and the conference room packed, Ross Young, General Manager for Rugby World Cup took to the stage to announce Microsoft New Zealand’s sponsorship of the Rugby World Cup 2011.
Rugby World Cup 2011 is set to be New Zealand’s largest sporting event in recent history and Microsoft is an exciting addition to an already stellar line up of sponsors, including Mastercard, DHL, ANZ, Heineken, Societe Generale and Emirates.
Valued at more than $2 million, the sponsorship includes some of the latest Microsoft software and technology such as Silverlight, Windows 7, Office 2010, Windows Server and SharePoint Online. This technology will enable all those not able to travel to good ol’ NZ to watch matches and highlights in high definition on their PCs.
Paul Muckleston, Country Manager for Microsoft New Zealand was next in line, echoing Ross’ excitement about Microsoft joining in as a sponsor. And it wasn’t long before David Kirk, hero of New Zealand Rugby and all-round impressive businessman, took to the stage to talk about his experiences, what technology has done to change the game, and most importantly, who he thought was going to win the Cup this year (for the record he picked the All Blacks!).
After the speeches were complete it was time for a name to be drawn out of a hat. Boring you might say, but I think not – this lucky person won tickets to the final of the Rugby World Cup 2011 (I slipped my business card in but I think they noticed).
It was at this moment the Porter Novelli team had to be the most focused, as everyone swarmed, eager to get their photo taken with the Webb Ellis Cup. Children were pulled out of school, business people missed their next meetings, and the photos kept coming as everyone wanted to commemorate the time they were closest to the Cup (no touching though, or you risked being tackled by the burly security guard).
By midday the event was over, the Cup just a memory and the team at Microsoft and Porter Novelli looking forward to what is to come – hard work and box seats.
For more information about the sponsorship visit http://bit.ly/msnzsponsorship or just turn on the TV tonight...