Concluding a Year-Long Test Schedule, Lenovo Gears Up for Final Technology Rehearsal before Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Lenovo Trains 580 Engineers to Support Computing Equipment at the
Games
BEIJING--(Business Wire)--
After a full year of Beijing-based international athletic
competitions used to test the technology infrastructure supporting the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Lenovo is preparing for the final and most
grueling test of all, a three-day comprehensive technology rehearsal
on June 10-12 that will involve more than 300 Lenovo engineers and
thousands of Lenovo PCs.
More than 20,000 pieces of Lenovo equipment have been put to the
test in more than one year of "Good Luck Beijing" athletic
competitions, including Olympic sports ranging from archery and diving
to synchronized swimming and taekwondo.
As a worldwide Olympic partner and the exclusive computing
equipment provider, Lenovo is providing the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) with more than
30,000 pieces of equipment including desktop and notebook PCs,
monitors and servers. During the Good Luck Beijing events, much of
this equipment underwent extensive testing and fine-tuning, providing
invaluable hands-on experience for many of the 580 Lenovo engineers
who will be working on-site in August.
With the test events complete on June 1, the final preparatory
event will be the comprehensive technical rehearsal conducted by BOCOG
on June 10-12. The physical equipment supporting the Olympic Games and
the thousands of personnel who oversee it will participate in
"Technical Rehearsal 2" (TR2), simulating three of the busiest days at
the Games. The rehearsal will force participants to practice managing
an array of potential problems and scenarios - missing equipment,
slashed cables, security breaches, power outages, etc. Nearly 95
percent of Lenovo's computing equipment at every venue will be
deployed over the three days of intensive practice and problem
solving.
"Lenovo is delighted to report that the successful Good Luck
Beijing test events proved the strength of our hardware backbone and
our team of technicians that will support every aspect of the Beijing
Games," said Alice Li, Lenovo vice president of Olympic Marketing.
"The next challenge will be the comprehensive rehearsal, where BOCOG
will flip the 'on' switch, implementing all the technology systems and
looking for anything that can possibly go wrong. We know that our PCs,
which are the best-engineered in the world, as well as our team of
engineers, will meet this challenge with ingenuity and determination."
Lenovo products were carefully chosen for the Olympic Games
technology solution and the Good Luck Beijing events have proven their
features are well-suited to the challenge. For example, the primary
desktop PC - the ThinkCentre M55e - was tested in every venue,
including the Beijing National Aquatics Center, often called the
"Water Cube." These PCs are particularly adaptable to damp
environments and operated optimally during extreme situations - up to
90 percent humidity used in testing. Similarly, the equipment to be
used at outdoor competition venues has been specially selected to
withstand the unique challenges of Beijing's summer, including high
temperatures, dust and humidity.
The test events also allowed the team to successfully put the
equipment through endurance tests. During the course of the 2008
Olympic Games, 302 competitive events will be held in 17 days, with
one competition following closely on the heels of another. Equipment
in the competition venues will be running constantly from 6 AM to
midnight, and equipment in non-competition venues will run
continuously for 24 hours a day. Much of Lenovo's equipment will run
critical applications such as the Games Management System which
handles many important functions including accreditation,
transportation, sports entries, qualifications and staff and volunteer
deployment. The remainder of the Lenovo equipment will support the
company's personnel on site and Lenovo Internet lounges in the
Athlete's Village and more.
To operate and maintain this complex computing infrastructure,
Lenovo is undergoing a massive training program to equip 580 of its
finest engineers with the skills required to ensure smooth operation.
After several days of classes, they are tested in the field where they
perform rigorous hands-on exercises and mock scenarios. All of the
engineers are trained to operate and troubleshoot the notebooks and
desktops used for the Olympic Games. Those working on the Lenovo
servers receive an extra two days of training. In addition to this
preparation, BOCOG will conduct separate training sessions with the
engineering teams from Lenovo and other Olympic partners to ensure
successful execution during the Olympic Games.
Images and video footage of Lenovo PCs and technicians at work in
Olympic venues as well as graphics explaining the technology solution
can be downloaded for use at http://www.lenovointranet.com/olympic/.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the
world's best engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is
built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction
as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo
Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the
company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality,
secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide.
Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai
and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. For more
information, see www.lenovo.com.
Lenovo
Shannon O'Malley 646-935-4238
shannon.omalley@ketchum.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
