Olympics completes first lap of cloud transformation

Atos has completed the first stage of a digital transformation project for the IT of future Olympic Games, deploying the cloud IT infrastructure that will be used for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Atos is providing the infrastructure through its Canopy cloud in collaboration with strategic partner EMC.

The new cloud IT infrastructure will be used to test and run the applications used to distribute event results to the world’s media.

It will also be used to support the core planning systems used to recruit volunteers, support workforce management, manage the competition schedule and process accreditations for athletes and the media.

This capability will be implemented in stages, with the infrastructure first used to test competition schedule and workforce management systems.

This month, cloud capacity will be temporarily escalated to provide technical stress testing. Capacity will then be reduced until the volunteer portal goes operational around two years before the commencement of the Games.

IOC Technology Director Jean-Benoît Gauthier said the cloud IT infrastructure being implemented will be used to support all future Olympic Games from 2018. He called the delivery of the infrastructure a “major milestone” in the committee’s digital transformation.

“Cloud is a perfect fit for the Olympic Games and we are delighted to be working with our long-term worldwide IT partner on this important project that will benefit all those who participate in the Games — media, athletes and spectators,” he said.

Image courtesy of Shawn Carpenter under CC