Optus takes naming rights to Commonwealth Games aquatics venue

Australian telco Optus has acquired naming rights to the aquatics centre that will host events during the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast region.

The venue will now be known as the Optus Aquatic Centre and the agreement builds upon Optus’ role as the official support network of the multi-sport event.

Optus will provide communications infrastructure and managed services during the Games, which run from April 4-15. The company will also provide 4G services around the newly-named aquatics centre, and deploy two portable ‘Cells on Wheels’ at the venue to enhance the spectator experience.

Ian Smith, Optus’ vice-president and executive lead for the Commonwealth Games, said: “Optus is a principal partner of Swimming Australia and the Australian Dolphins Swim Team, so we saw it as complementary to continue our partnership with swimming in Australia by securing the naming rights of the Optus Aquatic Centre.”

Optus recently announced its A$30m (€19.1m/$23.5m) network investment program for the Games, with 411 infrastructure projects planned ahead of the opening ceremony. The telco also holds naming rights to the new 60,000-seat Optus Stadium in Perth.

Gold Coast 2018 chairman Peter Beattie said: “While our swimmers will be recording fast times, the infrastructure being deployed in venues will help spectators share the golden moments with the rest of the Commonwealth and the network upgrades across the Gold Coast will be heavily utilised well after the closing ceremony.”