Inside Atos’ Technology Operations Center at the Paris 2024 Olympics

French IT giant Atos plays crucial role in powering Paris Olympics

As the Paris 2024 Olympics unfold, behind the scenes, French IT giant Atos has been working tirelessly to ensure the smooth operation of the computer systems needed to handle accreditation, schedule volunteers, and distribute results for this year’s Games.

For the past three years, Atos has been preparing for this moment, bringing together technology vendors in its Technology Operations Center to jointly address any issues that may arise during the event. With over 100 workstations where Atos and other tech providers monitor venues across France and even the surfing competition in Tahiti, the team is constantly vigilant to address any glitches that may occur.

In a separate, highly secure room, a team focuses on assessing cybersecurity threats, ensuring the safety and integrity of the systems in place.

Despite the challenges, Atos has a long history of managing Olympic computer systems, dating back to the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona. The company has been a global partner since 2001 and has been in charge of the computer systems for every Olympics since Salt Lake City in 2002.

However, Atos has faced financial struggles in recent years, leading to a restructuring effort to ensure its corporate survival. With Jean Pierre Mustier recently appointed as CEO, the company is working to restructure its debt and strengthen its financial position.

Atos officials have opted against using generative AI to offer Olympics information to stakeholders, citing potential risks. Instead, the company focuses on using AI in non-critical areas, playing a supporting role throughout the Games.

One of the significant shifts in recent years has been the move to cloud computing, eliminating the need for bulky servers at each Olympics venue. Atos oversees key systems, managing credentials, delivering real-time results, and ensuring smooth operations for athletes, officials, volunteers, and journalists covering the Games.

As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue to captivate audiences worldwide, Atos remains a critical behind-the-scenes player, ensuring the technology infrastructure runs seamlessly to support the world’s premier sporting event.