IT, Computer and Internet companies love the Olympics

Posted on June 26, 2008
Filed Under Digital Entertainment, Digital Hardware, Digital Latest Gadets Gizmos, Digital Services, electronics

The final testing of the computer systems for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, has began, the system testing has been going on for the past year perparing for the big stage on August 8.

As we all know in IT, the computer system testing is key to the success of the IT systems during the games. Each sport, from archery to basketball to sailing and weight lifting has been allocated its own set of IT gear, and each of those systems have been tested for the past year until the start of the Olympic games.

The price tag for IT and communications at the world’s biggest sporting event will run to around $400 million USD and e will use the expertise of thousands of IT managers and engineers.

Atos Origin SA has been responsible for building the IT systems at the past few Olympic Games and is responsible for the design, build and operation of the IT systems in Beijing. Atos has said work on the IT systems used for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, started two and a half years before the event and underwent 100,000 hours of testing.

Beijing and six other cities will host 302 sporting events, meaning the IT systems will have to track all aspects affecting athletes: qualifications, transportation to competition sites, ensuring uniforms and equipment arrive on time as well as tallying scores for press and spectators.

But IT has an even bigger task. That Task is to baby sit close to 20,000 reporters and other media that will attend the Olympic Games as well as workers and fans. All will create demand for IT work, including venue administration, information distribution, network security, e-mail, Internet and mobile access to scores, logistics, commentator information systems and more.

Volunteers and sponsorship will play a major part in the Olympic Games. There will be 2,000 to 3,000 paid IT workers at the Beijing games, and 3,000 volunteers.

The Olympic Games have now turned into the cutting edge of getting information about the events to press and viewers. 400 Million is a lot of bandwith.

* 28 sports (302 events)
* 60 venues (31 for competition)
* 10,708 athletes
* 5,000 person IT team (including volunteers
* 12,800 computers
* 2000 printers

The IT used and maintained during the Olympics is kinda like the Super Bowl of how IT should be utilized at a major international event.