Olympics already threatened by cyber threats

Associated Press

London

Vital computer systems for London’s 2012 Olympic Games have come under repeated cyber-attacks — but only from hackers who were invited to join in thousands of hours of security tests.

Atos, the lead technology company for the Summer and Winter Games since 2002, said Tuesday it had carried out more than 200,000 hours of testing, including mounting simulated attacks. It’s all aimed at protecting the systems that will deliver results to Olympic venue scoreboards, event timetables to athletes, and Olympic accreditation information to British border officials.

The company is responsible for about 11,500 computers and servers at locations across Britain. Starting next week, it will run its Olympic Technology Operations Center — based in Canary Wharf, close to the Olympic stadium — around the clock, monitoring possible cyber threats second by second.

Michele Hyron, the company’s chief integrator, said to help test its defenses Atos had drafted in so-called “ethical hackers” — specialists capable of mounting sophisticated attacks who use their knowledge to test systems rather than disable them.

“We are using ethical hackers for that, we are using external companies, we are using people from our own company who are specialized in that kind of activity,” she said. “We are preparing ourselves in terms of testing to cover all the kind of threats to the Olympic Games.”

A quarter of the London Olympic organizing committee’s overall budget of $3.1 billion has been spent on technology. Atos is expecting to handle 2 million pieces of key data throughout the event — 30 percent more than at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Tarmoh stands by decision

Eugene, ORE.

Jeneba Tarmoh doesn’t want to be viewed as a quitter.

A sense of fairness and not fear kept her from taking the starting line to break a third-place tie in the 100 meters with training partner Allyson Felix on Monday.

Tarmoh didn’t think it was right she had to earn that spot again after originally being awarded third place in the June 23 race.

Her heart wasn’t into a runoff and she notified USA Track and Field she was stepping aside, conceding the final Olympic spot in the 100 to Felix.

“If standing up for what I believe in and not running because I believe I earned that spot, because I believe the emotional roller coaster they put me through was too much to go through at the moment — if that’s what makes you a quitter then I guess the definition of a quitter is misconstrued nowadays,” Tarmoh said.

US passes on 2022 WINTER Olympics

Denver

The U.S. Olympic Committee will not bid for the 2022 Winter Games, but instead explore possible bids for either the 2024 Summer or 2026 Winter Olympics.

In a meeting Tuesday, the USOC board decided to hold off on bidding for the next available Olympics because going for the 2022 Games would put the federation on a fast timeline.

The United States hasn’t hosted a Summer Games since 1996 or a Winter Games since 2002.

Scott-Arruda added for volleyball

Danielle Scott-Arruda has been included on the 12-player roster for the U.S. women’s volleyball team that will play in London, making her the squad’s first five-time Olympian. She is one of three repeat Olympians.

The U.S. women’s team is ranked No. 1 in the world going into the London Games.