Atos has opened its Rio 2016 Games IT integration testing lab ©Atos
Worldwide Olympic Partner Atos has opened the IT integration testing lab for the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics marking the start of 200,000 hours of IT testing in the run up to and during next year’s Games.

The 1,272-square metre facility will be where the IT team will do its training and test the results related IT systems, IT applications and IT infrastructure to ensure seamless operation during the event, including the beaming of results around the world in less than a second for use on television, online and other media devices.

It will also house the portal that supports the recruitment and training of the 70,000 volunteers and the application that processes 300,000 accreditation passes for the Olympic family.

The lab itself features 42 cells covering each sport and venue plus 12 cells for the accreditation and results information systems under one roof.

“Today the Olympic Games could not happen without technology and I am delighted that the IT integration testing lab - an important milestone in our programme - is on time and on budget,” Sidney Levy, Rio 2016 chief executive, said.

“Let the IT testing begin.”

Rio 2016 represents a major milestone in the International Olympic Committee’s IT strategy as it will be the first time in a Summer Games where key systems are managed in the cloud.

The opening of the IT integration testing lab marks the start of 200,000 hours of IT testing in the run up to and during Rio 2016
The opening of the IT integration testing lab marks the start of 200,000 hours of IT testing in the run up to and during Rio 2016 ©Atos

It also means it will be the last time that the IT integration testing lab is located in the host city as the systems are transitioned to Atos’ cloud, Canopy, with a permanent testing lab in Spain supporting all upcoming Games.

It is hoped the changes will increase reliability and flexibility, while reducing costs.

“Testing is critical to our success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games and today’s opening is a major milestone in our technology roadmap,” Patrick Adiba, group chief commercial officer and chief executive of major events at Atos, said.

“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.”

During Rio 2016 Atos will work closely with other technology partners, such as Omega, Panasonic, Samsung, Cisco and Microsoft as it runs the IT for the Games.