IT Cutbacks For 2012 London Olympics

Slatterz writes "The IT backbone for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is to be cut. According to the Games' chief integrator, Michele Hyron of Atos Origin, each section of the computing infrastructure will be made more efficient in order to minimise redundant equipment and hopefully reduce energy consumption. Unlike the Beijing Games, the results will be relayed via the public wireless network which will be available in the Olympic Park — this means cutting out the 2,500 results terminals. The team of workers will deliver more than 1,000 servers, 10,000 PCs and 4,000 printers."

Comments

Good

[SchizoStatic]

Maybe this time we won't see a giant BSOD on the ceiling of the event.

Craplympics

[Roland Piquepaille]

The team of workers will deliver more than 1,000 servers, 10,000 PCs and 4,000 printers.

It always makes my blood boil to see how much money is funneled into sporting events such as the olympics without flinching, while at the same time public research, schools, etc..., people of real value to society, have to cry and beg for resources...

Re:Craplympics

[Anonymous Coward]

In the UK it doesn't really work like that. Universities don't make money off of sports and don't really give out scholarships based on sporting ability. In other words, the government don't like giving out money to *anybody*, no matter what you're good at.

The UK government has a terrible record for IT projects. I imagine that this one will have some problems and yes, without a backup it's going to be fun to watch.

Re:Craplympics

[theaveng]

>>>The olympics encourage people to take up sports and get fit.

Since the Olympics were installed people are MORE fat than ever, not less. The Olympics have done nothing of what you claim.

>>>They promote tourism.

Not really. Most of the cities that sponsored the Olympics are still deep in debt. There are a few exceptions like Atlanta which was mostly paid by corporations, but then there are others like Toronto who, even thirty years later, are still in debt. Tourism does not make-up for the huge expense of throwing this "huge sports party" known as the Olympics.

>>>you can pump as much money as you want into schools and research and it tends to dissapear into a black hole.

The fact that we are both sitting here with college degrees, and now contributing back to society with our respective design expertise, belies that claim. Schools contribute for the simple reason that people walk into kindergarten going "duh" and they come out with the ability to read, write, and do basic math (or go onto college).

That's better than what sponsorship of Olympic-level sport produces (a broken worn-out body in most cases & a way to sell Fruit Loops in national advertising).

Sorry. You just don't understand money or politics

[Colin Smith]

It always makes my blood boil to see how much money is funneled into sporting events such as the olympics without flinching, while at the same time public research, schools, etc..., people of real value to society, have to cry and beg for resources...

You see, money is created from nothing. There is an infinite supply of money, it however doesn't grow on trees, someone has to go to the laborious task of typing the numbers into a computer. Or writing them into a book.

Bankers can get as much money as they like, they just pay the politicians a little bit up front and the politicians pay them back... Well, we're well into the trillions now.
 

4000 printers for 10000 pcs?!

[sqldr]

That's nearly 1 printer for every 2 people. Here we have a team of 25 sharing a printer, and there's rarely a queue. How many trees are they intending to cut down?

Re:As an East Londoner...

[Aceticon]

The costs for the London 2012 Olympics have already spiraled to 2 or 3 time the original budget. Actually this was the case already 6 months ago BEFORE the credit crunch started to bit.

That said, they might open most venues in time ... just WAY over budget.

Re:This won't reduce energy consumption one Wh

[jlarocco]

I'm no expert on the Olympics, but don't they occur every 4 years?

Maybe they could solve their efficiency problems by not buying new shit every time? Hard to imagine it sees very much wear and tear when it's being used 2 weeks every 4 years.

Re:It is the nature of sports reporting.

[drspliff]

Then why is it being printed?

So they can courier it across the city... post it in the mail... send it via carrier pidgeon etc.

Doesn't hold water, sorry.

Re:In other news...Recession cuts back Olympics Ga

[bob.appleyard]

The post you're replying to said they were from Yorkshire, not Islington.