Controlling access to Beijing Olympics
State-of-the-art access control system delivered sophisticated security to the Beijing Olympics
The Olympic Games is considered to be the premier sporting tournament in the world. It's not only a flagship event for the host city, it's a statement of prosperity and innovation for the whole country. Therefore, for every host, an efficient, incident free event is essential.
The 2008 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Games were no different. A key requirement for the organisers was to ensure that the thousands of athletes were able to carry out their daily activities in preparation for competition in a secure, stress free environment - rather than worry about identity and access management issues such as lost keys, access rights, identification and so on.
Strict technology requirements for the access control security system were needed to secure the various venues. Not only did the main stadium require a high level of secure access technology, other venues such as The Beijing Sport University Track and Field Training Centre, through to the athlete's apartments, cafeteria and auxiliary training facilities all needed have controlled access. Therefore, the organiser had to provide athletes and staff with a flexible solution that would work in a variety of environments while still providing a high level of security.
The chosen solution also had to be multi-functional and allow for more than just physical security. Initially, there were several areas of concern regarding the access control technology. Areas of functionality that needed to be incorporated included; entrance and exit management, identity verification and authority control management, as well as the ability to enable the use of a TCP/IP network connection for primary control of management and systems development. The Olympic administration wanted a scalable "One Card Solution" that would allow users to access facilities, pay for parking and make retail purchases within venues. Therefore, a reliable and high-quality one card technology was required that could integrate seamlessly with point of sale (POS) settlement systems, and also interface with retail management software.
In order to guarantee that the games met the strict security requirements imposed on them, the organisers appointed HID Global, and the Beijing-based company Skyrity Technology Development, to provide the secure identity and access management. This ensured an amalgamation of an experienced, globally trusted brand, alongside a native Chinese company. HID Global and Skyrity worked closely to develop the ideal solution for the games. Skyrity was responsible for the implementation of the software platform, as well as implementing the HID hardware including VertX Controllers, ProxPoint Plus Readers which are used alongside electronic locks, exit buttons, door lock openers and other equipment within the access control system infrastructure.
Mr. Wang Wei, project manager for Skyrity said: "The modular structure of HID Global's VertX controllers, its TCP/IP network connection and self-contained LINUX operations system are suitable for large scale event like the Olympics."
HID Global together with Skyrity was able to provide a solution that seamlessly linked a multitude of applications ranging from entrance and exit management, identity verification, and other management functions. The cards also integrated to a POS settlement system interface and retail management software, making this a true "One Card Solution". From the management of door access control to car park and retail HID cards increased participant's convenience and security.
Kate Horan, competing athlete at the Beijing Olympics, was impressed with the access security at the games: "The identity and access management solutions that were in place for the athletes was excellent. With multiple venues and accommodation, access had to be quick and efficient. I found it very convenient to use and I was confident that it was a secure system."
According to Huang Jun-Tao, head of engineering for the project, the games organisers chose to integrate HID Global's VertX products with Skyrity's software system because it utilised an open standard design and offered an integrated module for both hardware and software. "The scope of usage and compatibility of the entire system is outstanding, and we are able to expand the system capacity and arrange hardware exchange conveniently. The scale and type of system configuration is also flexible to change."
By adopting a state-of-the-art and flexible access control solution the Beijing Olympics were able to provide a secure environment for athletes and participants alike.
