Changes caused by new technologies happen at an ever-faster pace, but the Olympic and Paralympic Games essence remains the same. Apart from guaranteeing safety and efficiency in the access to competitions results, technology is a crucial element of how people relate to the world’s greatest sporting event. However, technological innovations are only valid in case they meet the needs of the Games spectators, a public in search of an authentic and memorable experience.

According to Gerry Pennell, CIO of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), who is taking part in the London 2012 Technology Debriefing this week in a Rio de Janeiro Hotel, the most relevant advances during the Games in the British capital were in this sense. The Debriefing is part of the knowledge transfer process between the Organising Committees and takes place until next Friday, the 16th.

“In the Olympic Park, we had a high density wireless network system that allowed data and image transfer at any time. We were also the first to deliver real-time results to spectators, through our official website and mobile phone applications. For instance, there were 12.5 million results applications downloaded. There were times when half of our web services load was used by mobile devices”, Pennell pointed out.

Regarding the sporting competitions, laser pistols and sensor-equipped socks were first used during the London Games modern pentathlon and taekwondo competitions respectively.

“All Olympic Village apartments had access to OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Service) channels on television as well as to a wireless internet network. In addition, athletes could access the internet in the Village common areas and the sports venues lounges. Most athletes use internet devices these days so it was very useful”, said the LOCOG CIO.

Innovations in order to guarantee an impeccable media coverage

Accredited press professionals must have a structure that meets their needs so that the world’s greatest sporting event will have equal media coverage. During almost 30 competition days, with 28 Olympic and 22 Paralympic sports, journalists need high level broadcasting services and fast and efficient results verification.

In London, for the first time in Games History, the INFO system (a platform containing results, articles on the competitions and statements by medallists) could be accessed directly by journalists from their computers. The LOCOG Technology Area developed the ‘My INFO +’ system. The innovation for accredited media professionals during Rio 2016™ will be internet access on board the buses available to the press.

“That was part of our planning since its inception and we have taken this into consideration when developing our projects. The arrival of the LTE (4G) network, homologated by Anatel (Brazilian Telecommunications Agency), will contribute to an increase in data transmission capacity beyond current technology possibilities, resulting in a higher quality service. This is one of the Games basic requirements in the contracts discussed with our partners and suppliers as well as in the solutions we plan. Just like any technical solution, we must follow a long planning, implementing and testing process, but we are going according to schedule”, assured Elly Resende, Rio 2016™ Technology Director.

Balanced Technology with the Games Essence

Elly highlighted the importance of promoting innovations to the Games, always according to the demands of athletes, spectators, journalists, different media personnel and other people affected by the Games. Apart from Sport Presentation and Video Adjudication activities, the main evolutions during the Games are mobile device and connectivity related”, he says.

“The main goal is to offer efficient mature technologies to the Games clients. We must deliver what the clients need in order to have the best possible Rio 2016™ Games experience. We are working with a robust infrastructure that allows future necessary adjustments”, the Director concludes.

According to his colleague at the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Rio 2016™ Technology Area is on the right track.

“I believe one should not innovate only for the sake of it. It is important to understand what the athletes will need, what the journalists will need and what the public will need. You must understand how these people would like to get involved in the Olympic Games. Once you have answered these questions, it is possible to understand which the right thing to do is”, Gerry Pennell said.