MPs will be briefed on the progress of IT plans at
theLondon 2012 Olympic
Games.
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)
announced staff will report on the current status of technology at
the Games.
IT will play an important role at the event – especially IT
security. Former home secretary David Blunkett warned this week
that a
cyber attack could cause devastating disruption to the
event.
IT will underpin nearly all parts of the event. POST said,
"Pressure is mounting to ensure that the ICT systems responsible
for logistics, from ticketing to results, are completed and
rigorously tested in time for the Games."
POST wants to provide MPs with an overview of Games IT, covering
which organisations are responsible for delivering the technology,
the status of plans, the technological implications of the security
operation, and the possibility of a "cashless" Games and of
integrated systems for ticketing, ID authentication and
transport.
It will also look at the allocation of radio spectrum for Games
use, and progress towards meeting deadlines to test technology
before the Games.
The Games has a £9.3bn budget, which includes cash for
information systems, telecommunications, and internet applications.
Security for the Games, which has an estimated budget of £600m,
will also draw heavily on technology.
The group hopes to publish its report in July.
Atos Origin has been in charge of integrating the IT systems at
the Olympics for over a decade. Chief integrator
Michelle Hyron has previously said that the IT project at the
Games is on track.