Rio 2016 Games enter the cloud

MUMBAI, INDIA: Rio 2016 Games have entered the cloud—virtually.

According to Atos International, which is providing technology solutions for the event, cloud will be used for key applications including the volunteer portal and the accreditation system.

It is also the first time that the technology operations center (TOC) in the host city will be supported remotely by a new permanent technical technology operations center (TTOC) in Spain. This will be the operating model for the future games that will be delivered fully in SaaS.

Infact, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which visited TOC recently, has confirmed its IT readiness for the Rio 2016 Games.

TOC is the control and command center for technology that supervises all 144 Olympic competition and non-competition venues.  During Games time, this 800 m2 facility will monitor and control the IT systems that support the running of the games and deliver the results from all the Olympic and Paralympic sports competitions to the world’s media in real time.

The role of the TTOC for the Rio Games and going forward is to centralise support of the critical Games IT systems in one location. The TTOC will then be reused for future Games and so improve efficiency and reduce costs. For the Rio Games, a team of 150 business technologists will provide support from Spain.

Since the start of the test events which started on 15 July this year, the Rio 2016 TOC has been operational with a core team. From 25th July 2016 the TOC will operate at full capacity with 500 business technologists covering 187 positions to manage and monitor 24/7 the technology infrastructure and systems. These include IT security, telecommunications, power and the results systems. It will be staffed by a combined team comprising the Rio 2016 Technology team and Atos, who are operating it jointly and the other technology partners.

Elly Resende, Technology Director, Rio 2016, said, “The TOC is crucial to the running of the Games and we are delighted with how it has already supported us during the tests events. It is the IT equivalent to the main stadium from where the IT team will have the best seats to watch all the IT actions during the Games to ensure the results are delivered accurately, securely and in real time to the world.”

Jean-Benoît Gauthier, Information and Technology Director, IOC, said, “During the 15th Project Review, we have been impressed with the Organizing Committee’s information technology preparations. These Games will represent significant progress in the IT systems used at the Games, and we are working together with our Worldwide Partner Atos to improve the experience of athletes, media and spectators not only in Rio but also in future Olympic Games too.”

Other technology partners for the event include:

Omega: Timepieces, timing, scoring, and on-venue results

Panasonic: Audio visual equipment

Samsung: wireless communications

Embratel/ Claro: Mobile and fixed telecommunication

EMC: storage infrastructure