Telstra HeroMessage to support 2010 Winter Olympians

Telstra HeroMessages® will warm the hearts of the 2010 Australian Olympic Winter Team, as Aussie fans again get behind our sporting best when every bit of encouragement counts.

Launched today, the Telstra HeroMessage® allows fans to send personal messages of support and encouragement from their mobile handset or online to their sporting heroes. Telstra forwards these messages to individual athletes or the stipulated team, for them to read in Vancouver in the lead up to and during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

“Representing your country at a global sporting event like the Olympic Winter Games is a huge privilege, but can be daunting without friends and family near. With Telstra HeroMessage® we are proud to help Aussies get behind our athletes by delivering messages of support at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. Telstra HeroMessage® helps Australians to reach out and encourage our team in Vancouver,” said Mr Steven Bradbury, Australia’s first ever Olympic Winter Gold Medallist.

2010 marks the 22nd year of Telstra HeroMessages®, the first message was sent in 1988 to the Australian team at the Olympic Games in Seoul. Since then, the service has grown with technology to offer fans new ways to share their sporting passion with our top teams competing in international competitions.

“The support from sponsors is vital for the success of the Australian Team at the Olympic Games,” said Australian Olympic Committee President Mr John Coates.

“Telstra has been a fantastic Olympic Partner and the Australian Olympic Committee welcomes their ongoing commitment to the Team for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and onto London in 2012.”

Mr Coates continues,“ I know I speak on behalf of all the athletes in saying how much we appreciate Telstra’s generous support.”

This year Telstra Next G™ customers will also be able to access Mobile FOXTEL from Telstra’s four dedicated 24 hour streamed Vancouver 2010 channels on their compatible Next G™ handsets, beginning on 13 February 2010, including every gold medal event and every competing Aussie live and in full. Fans can sign up now to receive news, event information, athlete profiles and more in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.*

To get behind the 2010 Australian Olympic Winter Team as they compete in Vancouver, send a text message of support to 0428 MY HERO (0428 69 4376) for the cost of a standard SMS or go online at www.telstra.com/heromessage

Telstra is a committed Partner of the Australian Olympic Committee and is the official mobile content provider in Australia for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

* Mobile FOXTEL by Telstra customers who have the Ultimate Combo or Two Pack Combo (including Sports Pack) will receive the four streamed channels as part of their current package at no additional charge for the entire 17 days of the Olympic Winter Games. Telstra Next G™ customers can also purchase the Vancouver 2010 Action Pack directly from their mobile phone on BigPond Sport. For only $3.95 fans will receive a one-day access pass or for $9.95 they will receive an event pass which provides access to content from now until March 1, including the four FOXTEL channels during the Olympic Winter Games and pre-event content such as athlete profiles, venue information and more.