Atos opens IT testing lab for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Global IT services firm Atos has opened its IT integration testing lab for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, where it will put in 200,000 hours of IT testing in the run up to the Games. For the IOC and Atos, the 2016 Games represents the next step of the digitalisation of the Games, with all of the key IT systems transitioned into the Atos cloud, allowing for reliability and cost reduction.
Atos and the Games
Since 2002, IT firm Atos has been a Worldwide IT Partner of the International Olympic Committee, delivering the IT and solutions for the Olympic Games. Solutions delivered include the systems that beam the results around the world in less than a second for use on television, online and on multiple devices, the portal to support the recruitment and training of 70,000 volunteers, and the solution that processes 300,000 accreditation passes so those involved in the Games.
To ensure all IT is working properly, the Atos IT team prepares by test every results related IT system, IT application and the IT infrastructure itself to help ensure the Games run smoothly in its IT Integration Testing Lab. The Rio 2016 lab covers 1272 m2, comprising 42 cells covering each sport and venue plus 12 cells dedicated to the accreditation and results information systems. “Testing is critical to our success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and today’s opening is a major milestone in our technology roadmap,” comments Patrick Adiba, Group Chief Commercial Officer and CEO of Major Events at Atos.
Elly Resende, Rio2016 Technology Director, adds: “Atos plays an important role not only as a key integrator for our Games solutions but also as a true partner to support our challenges. With their successful track record in delivering IT for the Olympic Games since 2002, they bring experience, expertise and specialised knowledge which is enabling us to deliver the IT for the Rio 2016 Games and the foundation for future Games.”
Rio 2016 Games
For the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Rio 2016 Games represents a major step in its IT strategy to embrace digital transformation as all key systems will be transitioned to the Atos cloud Canopy. As a result of which, in the future, a local IT testing Lab will not be necessary anymore, with a permanent IT testing lab set up in Spain to support all the testing for upcoming Games. This allows for increased flexibility and agility as well as increased reliability, better accessibility to services worldwide, and a considerable reduction in the cost incurred by IOC and Organising Committees.
“Rio 2016 marks our eighth Olympic Games, fourth Summer Olympic Games and importantly the first and important step in the IOC’s journey to digital, as we move to a new IT delivery model from a ‘build each time’ to a ‘build once and reuse’ model. This will bring benefits in terms of efficiency not only for the Rio 2016 Games but for all future Games too. We are delighted to be working with the team in Rio to deliver this exciting transformation,” explains Adiba.
