Sprinting legend Michael Johnson today connected with the world's newest superfast athletics champion over the superfast National Broadband Network.

Johnson joined Andrew Robinson, who this month became the first Tasmanian in more than 70 years to win the Stawell Gift, to conduct the world's first NBN-enabled athletics training session.

Johnson, the guest of honour at the Australian Sports Commission's Our Sporting Future 2013 conference, took Robinson and children from Mount Carmel College in Sandy Bay through their paces via a high definition video link over the NBN between the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and South Hobart Oval.

According to Andrew Robinson:

"Connecting everybody to better broadband will open up new opportunities to identify, train and monitor the performance of the next generation of Australian sporting stars no matter where they live. That's what makes it such an exciting prospect for the world of sport."

Johnson holds four Olympic gold medals and eight world championship golds. He still holds world records in the 400m and 4x400m relay and a world's best in the 300m.

According to Kate Cornick, NBN Co's General Manager for Health and Education, today's session highlighted some of the benefits of better broadband that a growing number of Australians can now access.

"People are discovering that they can work from home like they would from the office; get all the family online at once and stream TV over the internet more smoothly."+

"Just as importantly, a wide range of competitive NBN packages are available from a wide variety of internet service providers."

Construction on the NBN is scheduled to have commenced or be complete for 3.5 million Australian homes and businesses by mid 2015.

The fibre optic service is already up and running in Victoria in Brunswick, Bacchus Marsh and South Morang.

It is also available in ten communities in Tasmania (South Hobart, Midway Point, Smithton, Scottsdale, Triabunna, Sorell, Deloraine, Kingston Beach, St Helens and George Town).

Construction will be also complete for the whole of Tasmania in 2015.

MEDIA INQUIRIES:     

Nichola Parker
Phone 02 8918 8714
Mobile 0427 173 025

Press Office

02 9213 2338

Notes to Editors

The NBN connection between Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and South Hobart Oval was enabled by Telstra.

Eligible residents can access a list of phone or internet service providers in each at area at nbnco.com.au/switch or by calling 1800 OUR NBN (1800 687 626).

+ Consumers' experience including speeds actually achieved over the NBN depends on factors outside NBN Co's control such as equipment quality, software, broadband plans and how a service provider designs its network.

 

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