A sophisticated computer network will try to untangle the complexities of the 1992 Winter Olympics, a sprawling affair of 13 sites over 60 miles of twisting Alpine roads.
Reporters, Olympic officials, security personnel and athletes at Albertville, France, next month will have access to a wide range of information at the touch of a colorfully illustrated computer screen on an Olympic-record 1,500 computer terminals.The latest contest results, weather forecasts, a calendar of events, transportation information, bus schedules, past Olympic results, athlete biographies, accreditation lists and more will be available in French and English.
"Without computer systems to match the complexity of today's Olympics, there would be no Olympics," Benoit de Chassey, director of information for the organizing committee, said in a telephone interview Friday from his home in Lyon, France.
The Albertville software - dubbed Info 92 - was designed and installed for the organizing committee by Chicago-based Andersen Consulting. IBM terminals and equipment are being used.
"The major thing with these games is the different venues that are spread apart so far. To go from the cross country to the downhill, it's a two-hour drive. That's why we needed such a sophisticated communication system, in order to know what is going on in each venue," said Yves Humbert, a manager of the Andersen Consulting team in Albertville.