Forget the roar of the crowd, the electric buzz of anticipation. 

Picture a global sporting spectacle – the kind that usually pulsates with life – playing out in an eerie silence. Spectators swapped for sanitizing wipes, cheers replaced by the whir of air purifiers. This wasn’t your typical international mega sports event. It was the summer games of resilience, a testament to human ingenuity amidst a global pandemic. Yet, beneath the surface of this subdued spectacle, a technological revolution was brewing, one that would redefine security, streamline operations, and even enhance the experience for participants. Buckle up, because this isn’t just a story about a sporting event – it’s a peek into the future of secure, seamless global gatherings.

A new legacy of innovation to keep the games safe

Even more than usual, safety was paramount. Ticket fraud, a constant worry, was tackled head-on with a world-first: facial recognition technology. Athletes, staff, and volunteers were scanned upon entry, their faces compared to a secure database. Accreditation cards with special chips added another layer of security, making stolen or fake credentials useless. Some venues even employed iris scanners for an extra level of protection.

This wasn’t science fiction – it was NEC making it happen for the first time in an event of such scale.  “Our mission,” said Masaaki Suganuma, the executive officer in charge of the event, “was to use ICT to ensure a safe and secure event regardless of whether spectators were present.” 

No mean feat, but not totally unexpected given the fact that NEC has been ranked first in the world since 2009 in a face recognition technology benchmarking test conducted by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology and was again ranked in August 2021.

Visualising a smoother experience

With limited spectators, maintaining social distancing was a breeze. But what about athletes in the athletes’ village, a bustling hub for over 10,000 participants? Enter the “congestion visualization system”, another game-changer. This innovative system displayed real-time information on crowded areas like cafeterias and gyms. Athletes could check congestion levels through displays or a handy smartphone app, allowing them to plan their movements and avoid unnecessary wait times.

Communication is vital for any large event, and this one was no different. NEC provided a next-generation radio system, ensuring crystal-clear communication among organizers and staff at 23 different venues. Forget dropped calls or unreliable signals – these wireless handsets kept everyone connected.

Real-time smarts

Security wasn’t reactive, it was proactive. NEC’s system provided the security coordination center with a constant stream of real-time data: traffic updates, weather alerts, accident reports, and even relevant social media messages from all 43 event venues. By analyzing this data, security personnel could identify potential threats before they escalated, keeping everyone safe.

Building the tech fortress

Imagine juggling information flow for thousands of people across dozens of venues. That’s where NEC and Cisco teamed up. They delivered a massive network infrastructure with over 16,000 devices like routers and security systems to ensure smooth information flow. Additionally, NEC created a specialized network environment for the 20,000 PCs used by event officials, allowing for quick setup and easy adjustments throughout the games.

Towards the next event

The technological advancements at the event weren’t just impressive – they were a blueprint for the future. Organizers of the next event, to be held in Paris in 2024, acknowledged the groundbreaking innovations.

“We need to thank our Japanese friends,” said Etienne Thobois, CEO of the Paris event. “To be able to pull that off in this particular situation is kind of amazing, it’s a remarkable achievement. They had to cope with it, and they did a fantastic job… Definitely, we learned from that.”

“The technologies and solutions including those from NEC consist of a new paradigm for the next event,” said Toshiro Yonemura, chief security officer for the event committee. “In addition, I believe they will continue to evolve and become inseparable contributions to the safety and security of our daily lives.”

(December 21, 2021)