Athens 2004 is creating a new 650-square metre surface Integration Lab at its headquarters which will be the “heart” of the Technology Division, an area for the simulation of all technology systems to be used during the course of the Olympic Games. The system is a miniature version of the technological infrastructure which will be used, for example, at the Athens Olympics Sports Complex (OAKA), the Faliro Olympic Complex and all other Olympic venues. It will feature the technological infrastructure to be used for every sport and functional area of the 2004 Games.
At the lab area there will be facilities for the simulation of a total of 36 sports events and 8 additional services (room reservations, accreditations, a printing network, an information network for commentators, etc.).
The Integration Lab will train and test the 450 personnel (300 permanent staff and 150 volunteers) in charge of the network systems at all competition and non-competition Olympic venues.
The testing and training will take place under simulated conditions at the end of 2002 and will continue through the Test Events at Olympic venues in the summer of 2003 and up until the Games. The services will also be available to International Federation officials wishing to test the systems, software programmers and personnel.
A main testing aim is to achieve “real time” or the transmission of information in a time frame of less than one second. Another aim is to test all systems under adverse conditions.
Meanwhile, Athens 2004 has announced that Shell, one of the world’s largest fuel companies, is an official supporter in the category of Petroleum Products.
Shell’s sponsorship consists of a sum of cash, plus provisions at fuelling stations at the Athens 2004 bus depots, and the servicing of the Organizing Committee’s bus fleet during the Games.
