Calling Australia's IT Pros: Optus wants to kick your sporting arse

Australian readers of The Reg may have already noticed that Optus wants IT teams to Take the Ultimate IT Challenge. It was launched last month, and ads are all over the shop.

We have just noticed that we are a media sponsor of this exceedingly fine competition...so here's the drill.

Optus is running a compo with $100,000 of business support prizes to dole out to the winners.

It's fairly painless: entrants must work in Australia and must answer seven short questions, two of which require a paragraph or three, on behalf of their IT teams. The most popular entrant - chosen by FaceBook acclamation - good for gaming, then - also wins a Netbook.

Also, and this is a nice twist, nine finalists get to attend the Ultimate Sporting Challenge in Melbourne on Friday 11 February 2011.

Says Optus: "You'll get to return a serve from Aussie tennis great Alicia Molik, face Wallaby Matt Giteau, or go up against Carlton Captain and Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd ...so let's just say it won't be your typical day in the office."

Quite - but no chance to mix it up with Kostya Tszyu? We think Optus is missing a trick here, although this probably tells you why we are not in marketing, and also why readers are so fond of The Reg.