London 2012 blog

Here's the problem...Whenever you start to talk about technology you run the risk of putting people to sleep. Don't stop reading now!!!

LOCOG’s Technology Team was faced with this significant challenge:  How to explain what we do in a way that excites and engages and, most importantly, makes sense? Technology language is full of acronyms, abbreviations and jargon. Sometimes it's as if we speak a different language altogether. 

So to clarify and affirm how technology fits into the London 2012 vision, 'To use the power of the Games to inspire change', we locked ourselves away for two days with the help and facilitation of our partner in professional services, Deloitte, to discuss, debate and decide our technology strategy. And who better to attempt explain it in plain English than the only non-technology minded person in the team? Never has standing in the corner, raising my hand and saying 'I don’t get it' proved to be so valuable!

And here it is...Our Technology Goal is:

To deliver the essential technology for an inspirational and distinctive Games.

We came to the conclusion that our main objectives are fourfold:  Foundation, Communication, Information and Participation. We provide the computer systems that allow the London 2012 team their jobs with excellence, be it in the office or the venue. We enable the team to communicate, send and receive information and connect to the world. 

During Games-time we will also deliver competition and results information and we provide the means by which the world will access, share and participate in the Games. Internet-based products will inform, engage and encourage participation in the Games. We do all of this while dealing with and meeting the demands of a complex group of partners, stakeholders and consumers.

However, with definite constraints such as time (we can't be late) and budget (we won't be wasteful) there are some things we agreed we won't do:

- We won't provide big, corporate level, solutions where they aren’t necessary.

- We won't be a test bed for the latest technologies.

- We won't focus our efforts on providing the latest whizzy gadgets.

But we will challenge what has gone before in an effort to deliver more service with less money and waste. Our innovations will be directed at improving process and efficiency while maximising sustainability (less paper and less power). This in itself will make us distinctive from previous Games, but on top of this we will stimulate and inspire the youth audience through memorable new media initiatives. 

Welcome to the Games for a Digital Age!