Counting down to the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games IT systems ready to go

Singapore - With four days to go before the opening of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) and Atos Origin – the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games – today announced that the Games IT systems have been successfully integrated, tested, secured, and are ready to support the operations of the first edition of this international sporting event that is dedicated to the youth of the world.

This IT project is to date the most complex IT project for a sporting event ever undertaken in Singapore. It includes more than 2,000 computers, 250 servers, 1200 network devices spread over more than 35 competition and non-competition venues. The IT systems must operate flawlessly without any disruption in services during the duration of games from 14 to 26 August 2010.

Technical teams from SYOGOC, Atos Origin and other technology partners have spent more than 30,000 hours testing and validating the whole IT infrastructure to ensure that staff, technology and procedures can function smoothly and seamlessly, and deliver error-free IT services and support to athletes, Olympic officials, media, volunteers and spectators.

During the technical rehearsals and validation exercise conducted in June and July by SYOGOC with Atos Origin and other technology partners, large-scale simulation exercise and scenarios-based testing were executed to assess the ability and readiness of the IT operating team to respond to 300 pre-defined incidents activated by a shadow team of officials. These include hardware failures, software bugs, changes to competition schedule, users’ complaints, staffing problems, security attacks, network breaks and power outages. The IT systems were also put through their procedures in supporting the running of five sports at four venues under real live games conditions. The systems tested included data networks, telecommunication, accreditation, timing & scoring, results distribution, incident management and IT help desk support.

“The series of complex technical rehearsals and validation exercises provided SYOGOC and the technology partners with the opportunity to work together with one goal of delivering error-free IT support and services for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games,” said Mr Goh Kee Nguan, Chief Executive Officer, SYOGOC.“In fact, the games IT infrastructure, managed and monitored by the Technology Operations Centre has been in operational mode since 18 June 2010 and is ready for the Youth Olympic Games.”

“We are delighted that together with SYOGOC Technology Division and technology partners, Atos Origin has been able to put in place and make operational the Singapore Youth Olympic Games IT systems according to specifications on-time,” said Mr Patrick Adiba, Chief Executive officer Iberia - Olympics and Major Events, Atos Origin. “We were able to leverage our experience in providing the IT systems for all the Olympic Games since the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics to ensure that the IT systems for the Singapore 2010 Games are developed, tested, secured and operationalised for the event.”

The Singapore 2010 IT systems will be operated by more than 2,300 IT professionals and volunteers. Of these more than 160 will monitor the systems in the Technology Operations Centre (TOC) which is the control and command centre of the whole IT operation. All systems deployed at the various venues and locations, including games management system, results systems, Internet websites, and networks will be managed and monitored from the TOC. It will be manned 24/7 to allow for swift response and rectification in the event of any unexpected incidence impacting the IT systems.

“As the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games is a historic milestone in the Olympic Movement, the whole world will be watching,” said Mr Goh. “We have to ensure that the games can run smoothly with the highest level of efficiency to meet the satisfaction not only of the athletes, officials and media but also the enjoyment of a global audience. IT is a critical component in the success of the games.”

“We would like to thank SYOGOC Technology Division for their leadership and all the technology partners for their support and co-operation during the countless number of hours of planning, implementing and testing in preparing the IT systems for the Singapore 2010 Games,” said Mr Adiba. “We can confidently say that we are now ready for the Games to begin.”

About Singapore 2010 – Blazing the Trail
Singapore will be hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) from August 14 to 26, 2010. The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will receive some 5,000 athletes and officials from the 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), along with estimated 1,900 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers, and 320,000 spectators. Young athletes - aged between 14 and 18 years - will compete in 26 sports and take part in the Culture and Education Programme.

The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games aims to inspire youth around the world to embrace, embody and express the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect. It will create a lasting sports, culture and education legacy for Singapore and youths from around the world, as well as enhance and elevate the sporting culture locally and regionally.

For more information, please visit www.singapore2010.sg

About Atos Origin
Atos Origin is a leading international information technology (IT) services company, providing hi-tech transactional services, consulting, systems integration and managed operations to deliver business outcomes globally. The company’s annual revenues are EUR 5.1 billion and it employs 49,000 people. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting.

In Asia Pacific, Atos Origin has its regional headquarters in Singapore and has 2,000 employees in 7 countries and regions servicing clients in Financial Services; Discrete Manufacturing; Telecom & Utilities; Process Industries; CPG/Retail and Public Sector.

In Greater China region, Atos Origin has been present for over 10 years and currently employs 1,000 people in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Taiwan, focusing on an end-to-end service model to “design, build and operate” IT solutions for key clients in such industries as finance, discrete manufacturing, petro chemicals and process industry, and energies. Atos Origin China is headquartered in Beijing.