Giant Rugby Ball connected to the world with AT&T

The partnership between data communication company AT&T and Tourism New Zealand is set to continue, when the later moves it’s Giant Rugby Ball to its latest destination.AT&T will again provide data communications services to New Zealand’s giant rugby ball venue when it arrives in Tokyo, the host city for the first match of the All Blacks’ end of year tour.The match, scheduled for 31 October, will be against Australia.As well as being open to the public, the giant rugby ball venue is also used by Tourism New Zealand, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host international media and trade partners.The giant rugby ball first appeared in Paris at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, before being deployed in London in 2008 to correspond with the All Blacks’ tour. It is currently on a tour of major tourism markets leading up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.According to Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton, connectivity with the world’s media was an important part of the ongoing success of the giant rugby ball programme.“It’s vital that pictures, videos and other materials can be instantly distributed to local and international media from wherever the ball happens to be,” he said, highlighting that AT&T had been their networking partner for a number of years and they were “delighted” to continue this relationship.AT&T New Zealand general manager Roger Payne said this “high profile” campaign was strategically important to New Zealand.