Nintendo sponsors Australian Open

Nintendo Australia today announced it has signed on as a sponsor for the 2008 Australian Open tennis tournament, taking on the title of "Official Gaming Console Supplier." The Australian Open will take place from January 14-27 this year at Melbourne Park.

Attendees at the event will be given the chance to not only watch the pros in action on centre court, but have a shot at making the big time themselves. Nintendo is set to host a Wii competition, with the major prize on offer a one-on-one Wii Sports match with Australian tennis player Mark Philippoussis. Daily champions will be crowned, with the player able to hold the court the longest receiving a Nintendo Wii console and a copy of Wii Sports. The two highest scoring daily winners will then be invited to return for the final on the last day of the Australian Open tournament. The overall winner will receive tickets to the Men's Final, as well as the chance to take on veteran player Mark Philippoussis in a game of virtual tennis.

Visitors will also have the chance to try out soon-to-be released vision game Sight Training at the Nintendo booth--the latest title in the self-improvement range of games for the DS handheld. Guests will be eligible to win a daily prize pack consisting of a Nintendo DS and a copy of Sight Training.

The event continues Nintendo's recent aggressive push into targeting nontraditional gamers. "Both the Wii Championships and Nintendo Sight Training Lounge at the Australian Open will showcase the diversity and broad appeal of Nintendo's products," said Nintendo Australia's managing director Rose Lappin. "We have games for everyone."