Photos: Beijing Olympics 2008 - tech keeping the games on track
Behind the scenes at the Bird's Nest, Water Cube and more…
silicon.com has been given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games venues and technology infrastructure. This is the Beijing National Stadium - also known as the 'Bird's Nest'. It will seat 91,000 during the games and be used for athletics and football.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
The National Aquatics Centre - otherwise known as the 'Water Cube' will be used for diving, swimming and synchronised swimming.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
These two giant venues are both located on Beijing's Olympic Green, which is also home to the team charged with making sure the technology underpinning the games runs smoothly.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
This is the systems integration lab, high above the Olympic venues, where the software to run the games is tested. The board lists some of the suppliers involved with the infrastructure for the games.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Jeremy Hore, chief integrator at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, in the testing lab. Each of the areas behind him is a testing cell dedicated to an application or a sport.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
For example, this one looks after handball. Each testing team includes workers from Atos Origin, the Beijing Olympic organising committee and other partners such as Omega. The equipment in the cell will go to the venue in the second half of May.
Photo credit: Atos Origin
Here is another view from the testing lab showing some of the applications that will be used - and the Bird's Nest in the background.
Photo credit: Atos Origin
This is the National Indoor Stadium, as seen from above. It will host the artistic gymnastics, trampolining and handball competitions during the games.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Above are signposts to the Water Cube.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Another view of the Water Cube, from the testing labs above.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
This is the Olympic Green Tennis Centre. Data on the competitions sent back from each of the venues will be fed into the Information Diffusion Systems for delivery to athletes, media, judges and others.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
The Tennis Centre, as seen close up…
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
…and from inside. More than 70 venues will be used during the games and the tech team is tasked with providing the same IT support for each one.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Seen here is one of the Olympic mascots - Huanhuan, the Olympic Flame
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Other construction is also going on apace in Beijing, including this architectural marvel.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
Here, the Bird's Nest can be seen peeking through buildings.
Photo credit: Steve Ranger
…And the same view, at night
Photo credit: Steve Ranger