By Andy McCue, 6 July 2005 18:11
NEWS Planning for the technology infrastructure that will underpin the London Olympic Games in 2012, including the need for thousands of volunteer IT staff, will begin ahead of the 2008 Beijing games.
As part of its newly renewed outsourcing deal with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Atos Origin will now be responsible for all the IT systems and support in London after the city came from behind to defeat the favourite Paris in a dramatic vote today.
Alan Crompton, operations manager at Atos Origin for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics, told silicon.com that planning for the London Games will begin about a year before the Beijing Olympics.
"We will start to communicate with the organising committee about security, games management systems, accreditation and helpdesk services," he said.
Once the Beijing Games are finished in 2008, Atos Origin will then send its full front-line team to London to begin the rollout.
Crompton said the fact that the Greenfield East London Olympics site will virtually have to be built from scratch will make it easier to build the IT from the ground up. But he acknowledged that there will also be challenges.
"Venues and infrastructure are always going to be a challenge. Typically we are the first ones in and last ones out and any lateness in delivery means we have to react quickly to that," he said.
Crompton said he was "delighted" that London had come from behind to beat Paris in the final vote and that on a personal level it will be special to work on the Olympic Games in his own country.
"I've worked in Salt Lake, Athens and Sydney but it gives you a different perspective in your home country," he said.
Staffing will also be an issue, with the Olympic spirit of volunteering extending to IT support for the games. For the Athens games last year Atos Origin had around 1,400 of its own staff along with 2,000 IT volunteers who had to go through police background checks in order to work in low-level support positions.
As part of a separate contract, IT suppliers also have just two days to register their interest in providing some of the technology to support the planning of London's Olympic Games.
Last month the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) sent out a contract notice seeking expressions of interest from companies interested in the provision of IT and telecoms services for the organisations involved with planning the game.
Requirements will include desk-based computing for around 250 users initially, with the potential for a user base of more than 2,000 over the life of the project.
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Roger Huffadine
Whats the odds on someone deciding to use RFID, WiFi or 'biometric' smart cards?
Any and all of these are wide open to security breaches and disruption.
2. Cliff Moore
I thought the major arguement for having this farce in London was that it will create jobs here! Oh yes - lets once again ask computer workers to do everything for free - so that the money making machine can make the maximum profit. I hope there is no one daft enough in I T to do what should be paid work for free.
3. Dick Winchester
Pretty good.. Paris looses the Olympics.. French quoted company gets the IT contract.
So that's one deal we Brits needn't bother bidding for them.
4. Nick (aka Victor)
I guess many of the 2000 "volunteers" would be Londoners who are to being forced to pay an additional £200/pa in council tax to contribute to the 2012 games ? Give it back to the French - I'd rather have the a say where my hard earned, over taxed money goes thanks.
5. anonymous
Watch how the government reels graduates and IT personnel in by promising job opportunities that will literally fall over themselves to employ you if you add 'helped in the 2012 Olympics IT project' on your CV
Just like the miasma of the their campaign focussing on African kids realising their dreams at the London Olympics just in time for the Make Poverty History campaign…
It's nice to see Britain hasn't lost it's vigour for politics.
6. anonymous
I am a British citizen living in the United States. I am often in London. How can I secure a volunteer position for 2 weeks of the games. I am willing to pay my fare to London and pay my own accommodation. Just want to do a worthy volunteer job. Please advise me exact dates. I attended many Olympic sports items in Atlanta, Georgia and actually walked though Centennial park about 15 mins. before the bombing on my way back to my hotel.