Olympic Games IT architecture is on the blocks

Systems plans for Beijing 2008 are completed on schedule

Dave Friedlos, Computing 03 Jul 2007

The IT system architecture for the Beijing 2008 Olympics Games has been completed on schedule, says the games’ worldwide IT partner Atos Origin.

The architecture will underpin the provision of event results and information to spectators and media around the world in real-time.

When completed, the technical infrastructure will link more than 60 competition and non-competition venues across China, consisting of over 900 servers, 7,000 PCs and 1,000 network and security devices.

The architecture will provide the Beijing 2008 Organising Committee (Bocog) with a blueprint for the selection and implementation of proven hardware, software and network components.

The blueprint must be completed more than a year in advance of competition to meet the rigorous implementation and multiple testing phases that follow to ensure the IT systems are fully functional.

‘Like the winning athletic performances, the success of the Olympic Games IT systems is determined years before through advanced planning and preparation,’ said Atos Origin chief technology integrator Jeremy Hore.

The IT system architecture presented by Atos Origin to Bocog encompasses three main foundations; business continuity, data networking and security.

Business continuity means the architecture must be reliable and available for the 17 days of the games. The data network must deliver secure and quality service levels over the Real Time Competition Network, which supports mission critical applications, while the IT security must also be robust.

‘The major focus of developing this critical system architecture is not only to understand the frameworks of the past, but more importantly to adapt to a larger and more complex Beijing operations,’ said director of Bocog technology Yang Yichun.

‘Atos Origin’s system architecture milestone lays the groundwork for the implementation and testing phases that will ensure everything is in place well before the athletes, media and spectators arrive.’

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