Melbourne turf for Beijing Olympics

Australian export case study

Melbourne-based Sports Technology International recently installed synthetic turf at the official hockey site for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The unique sporting surface, known as Poligras Olympia, is made with a low-sliding resistance microfibre yarn and sits on a built-in ‘shock layer’ which provides exceptional shock absorption for players.

This innovative hockey surface has been accredited by the International Hockey Federation and was completely manufactured at Sports Technology International’s factory in Dandenong, Victoria.

Sports Technology International is part of the Advanced Polymer Technology Group, a global company which develops high performance materials and coatings using advanced polyurethane technology.

The company services the construction and contracting industry in the sports market, supplying tennis courts, bowling greens, and hockey, football, rugby and multi-sport playing fields, as well as school playgrounds in the domestic market. It is also a fully integrated contracting company installing large-size sports surfaces at high profile venues such as sporting stadiums.

Sports Technology International holds accreditations with all major sporting bodies around the world, including FIFA, World Bowls, the International Rugby Board, the International Hockey Federation, the International Tennis Association and the International Amateurs Athletics Foundation.

Dr. Martin Schlegel, Managing Director of Advanced Polymer Technology Australasia, said that the contracts for supplying any Olympic products and services are hotly contested by organizations all around the world.

He said that Austrade had helped Sports Technology International during the pitch for the Beijing 2008 Olympics’ contract.

“Austrade issued a support letter for our bid and they were a key factor in our success in winning this contract.”

In particular, Dr. Schlegel said, Austrade’s business networking program, Business Club Australia, had proved very helpful in providing settings for making important business contacts.

“We were in France recently for the Rugby World Cup 2007, and a BCA networking event provided the right environment for business matching,” Dr. Schlegel said.

“As a result, we are now in negotiations with a major new customer for the provision of synthetic turf for golf courses. This has the potential to lead to a large scale roll-out of our products across Mediterranean Europe.”

Business Club Australia

Business Club Australia was launched in 2000 for the Sydney Olympics, and has since run many successful business networking programs built around major sporting events such as Rugby World Cups and Olympic Games.

Since its inception, Business Club Australia had held over 270 networking events in Australia and overseas.

There are 8,500 Business Club Australia members – with around 37 per cent located internationally – and the program has facilitated more than $1.7 billion in business deals over the past seven years.

For further Business Club Australia information: