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HELPING TO POWER A GLOBAL MOVEMENT

The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games took place July 2018 in Seattle, Wash., where more than 4,000 athletes and coaches representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. Special Olympics is a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. ESPN broadcasted the Opening Ceremony on ABC and hosted coverage of the USA Games throughout the week.

The USA Games consisted of 14 different sports with multiple locations, which all require varying levels of technical support. “There are different network rules depending on where you are located, when we are at the University of Washington, we are on their network. We had to abide by how their network was managed,” says Eric Corning, Vice President Production of the 2018 USA Games and a leader in event production at non-profit organizations for over 20 years. After witnessing technical problems at the World Games in 2017, Eric requested IT support from Net-Tech for the USA Games.

PARTNERING WITH THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS SINCE 1993

Net-Tech has provided IT services to Special Olympics Washington since 1993, so they were eager about the opportunity to support the USA Games. The USA Games required two key things for solid IT support — the ability to get on the internet and the ability to print. Net-Tech provided all hardware and full IT support for the USA Games from proactive planning, to attending onsite, helping with tear down and 24/7 network monitoring. The hardware gave a bird’s eye view from one central location allowing them to manage all activity. Because the USA Games is a showcase for the Special Olympics U.S., leaders from other states attended to observe the production for future emulation. “Having an onsite IT person is something I’d highly recommend for them and have that person be there as a part of the crew from set up, to actual execution of the event to tear down, rather than someone who makes a plan for you and then you send your volunteers to execute it”, says Corning.

SUPPORTING AN INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST TECHNOLOGY

Net-Tech came prepared to the USA Games with plenty of onsite resources and enough people to staff all event sites throughout the week. “We had so many users and so many different venues that we had to support, and we did not have anyone call in to tell us the network was failing or that the event could not take place. If no one has any issues or complaints throughout the entire week for an event at this scale, you have really done your job well because you weren’t noticed”, says Corning.

The USA Games is much more than athletes running 100 meters. It’s an inclusive experience where everyone — athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, sponsors, etc. — supports and accepts each other. “The folks at Net-Tech did more than just anticipate a network problem. They spoke with friends and families of the athletes or the athletes themselves. That’s what matters,” says Corning.

The folks at Net-Tech did more than just anticipate a network problem. They spoke with friends and families of the athletes or the athletes themselves. That’s what matters.
Eric Corning, Vice President Production of the 2018 USA Games

ABOUT NET-TECH

Net-Tech has been delivering services and solutions for businesses and non-profit organizations since 1983. Net-Tech has established a reputation for delivering high-level project management as well as complete IT outsourcing. Their success comes from their focus on customer needs and solutions. Their core philosophy revolves around excellence in all areas: professional expertise, technical innovation, and client satisfaction. Net-Tech believes that solid commitment to excellent service and high integrity is inherent to building relationships with clients that last.