11:29am Tuesday 28th October 2008
This year, the running track at Southampton Outdoor Sports Centre was the venue for the launch of the Hantsweb Awards.
Hampshire’s Olympic runner and 400-metre British record holder, Iwan Thomas MBE, and Hampshire County Council’s IT champion, Councillor Rod Baulk, were put through their paces alongside local young people, including members of the Hampshire Talented Athletes Scheme.
The sporting theme was chosen to launch the awards in celebration of the new sport category.
Since the advent of the Internet, the technology has allowed people from around the globe to share their sporting successes, experiences and interests, on a massive scale while spreading the message on the positive benefits of sport and exercise for a healthy lifestyle.
Sport is also a high-profile example of how fans from all walks of life can get closer to their favourite clubs and professional stars, helping to bring their sporting passions into their own homes.
The launch event was also a lot of fun. Information technology can sometimes be perceived as two-dimensional and stuffy, but launching the awards with a sporting event broke the mould and the launch was a “winner”all round.
And for the first time, the awards have also tapped into the popularity of social networking, with a dedicated Facebook page set up, to spread the word about the awards.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisishampshire.net/trade_directory/