Software developed to disburse instant results at London Games

Mumbai, Jan 19 (PTI) Results of events at the LondonOlympics in 2012 would be distributed globally at the blink ofthe eye through a key piece of critical software.

The software that enables the distribution of results tobe delivered to the world in a fraction of a second has beendeveloped by the Indian centres of the worldwide IT partnersof the Olympic Games, Atos Origin, a media release said today.

The Commentator Information System displays results ontouch-screen PCs in less than 0.3 seconds at venue broadcastsites, providing broadcasters with the results before theyhear the roar of the crowd, according to the release.

Milind Kamat, CEO of Atos Origin India, said thecountry''s importance in making the Games a success needs to behighlighted.

"Despite being on the other side of the world, India''simportance to making the London 2012 Games a success shouldnot be underestimated. It is in a large part down to the hardwork and dedication of our employees here in India that AtosOrigin is able to deliver IT solutions that will make London2012 a Games to remember," he said.

London 2012 chairman and former Olympic middle distancechampion, Sebastian Coe, welcomed the technology application.

"When an athlete crosses the line in an Olympic orParalympic Games, they don''t want to wait to see their timeflash up on the screen, they want to see it straight away.

Similarly commentators and those viewing at home want to seethe result instantaneously. (More) PTI SSR DK SHN

"The technology for London 2012 � like the athletes � is in full training for the Games and there are no secondchances. Our teams, alongside our partners, will undertakeover 200,000 hours of testing to make sure that when it comesto technology, for the athletes it simply isn''t aconsideration," Coe added.

Commentator, former world record holder in the 1500m,2000m and one mile and Atos Origin Ambassador, Steve Cram, wasalso appreciative of the software.

"As a commentator, I fully understand the importance ofbeing provided with information on the hundreds of athletescompeting in the Games. Things can change in the blink of aneye and we need to be able to react to situations as and whenthey arise.

"The Commentator Information System, from Atos Origin,provides us with a constant flow of up to the second, detailedand invaluable information that, coupled with myInfo, meanswe can deliver results almost instantaneously to the billionswatching the Games."

The Olympics IT partners also announced the launch ofthe Technology Lab where the Games will be put to 200,000hours of testing in which over 3,500 Indian employees of thefirm would be involved.

The Technology Lab is a miniature version of the 36Olympic competition venues, with the IT systems for everysports event and venue being put through a series of tests toensure the Games run smoothly.

During the initial stages of testing, the first pack ofseven sports, including athletics, tennis, basketball,volleyball and triathlon, that will be tested would requirehalf a million lines of code.