The Australian Open has announced a new partnership with global brand Initial as the Official Hygiene Partner of AO2021.
“The health and safety of fans, officials, players and our AO workforce is our number one priority and to partner with a trusted brand in Initial will help ensure fans are protected and can play it safe while enjoying a day at the tennis,” Tennis Australia Chief Revenue and Experiential Officer Ben Slack said.
“The hundreds of Initial touch-free hand sanitisers throughout the tournament precinct will be easily accessible to fans and will offer the best in hand hygiene protection.”
The partnership sees the hygiene company support the safe staging of the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.
As a leader in the provision of hygiene services and solutions, the partnership will see Initial supply over 800 touchless hand sanitiser and disinfection wipe stations across the AO precinct as well as provide the disinfection services of the fleet of 130 Kia cars used to transfer players and officials to and from Melbourne Park.
“COVID-19 has had such a massive impact on life as we know it. Sport, as part of the fabric of the Australian way of life, suffered substantially during 2020. As such Initial is both delighted and honoured to play a part in supporting the return of an event as significant and great as the Australian Open,” Pacific Managing Director of Rentokil Initial Andrew Stone said.
Enhanced hygiene practices, along with rigorous and frequent cleaning across the site, particularly in high risk and high touch surfaces and common areas, are a key part of the AO COVIDSafe plan to ensure the safety of everyone onsite.
Fans will find it easy to follow all the protocols, with COVIDSafe messages incorporated into big screen content and highly visible signage across the site, supported by a responsive customer experience team who will be helping patrons throughout the precinct.