Event Launching GE's International Olympic Committee Partnership
Dubai, UAE -- 21 February, 2006: The world's elite amateur athletes have gathered in northwestern Italy and are competing at the XX Olympic Winter Games in Torino, which opened February 10 and will close February 26. For the past several months, as a partner to the Olympic Games and as a specialist in energy, security and healthcare matters, GE was appointed to handle all the extensive challenges posed by the major events during the Games and provide the necessary technological expertise.
In addition to security measures for athletes and guests, the major challenges at the Torino Games included meeting the energy needs of the Olympic Villages and the numerous venues. The 2006 Olympic Winter Games is the largest time-limited energy infrastructure project in the world. The Organizers can count on GE as a strong partner.
"We are proud that our know-how and technologies will permit us to make a decisive contribution to a successful Games," explains said Nabil Habayeb, President and CEO, GE Middle East & Africa.
GE is supplying the complete energy needs of three Olympic villages, fourteen venues, the media center and the TV and radio broadcast facilities at the individual venues. GE is also the main energy supplier for the largest TV stations and for heating systems; the main power supply network will also have emergency back-up generators. GE's energy supply systems are in a position to provide an output of around 220 MW, enough to meet the power needs of around 219,000 average households.
And there's more. The venues must meet certain lighting requirements to permit TV viewers around the world to also watch the events in the new HDTV format. In order to meet these requirements GE has more than 600 floodlights being used in the Torino Esposizioni ice hockey stadium and on the Sestriere slalom slope.
The extensive security measures for the Olympic Winter Games in Turin are a particularly sensitive subject. GE is also making a decisive contribution in this area: It is providing security in the Olympic Villages, which the company has equipped with state-of-the-art security and fire prevention systems, including 500 optical smoke sensors, 60 manual calling points and 38 fire control panels. In addition, the ceilings of buildings have been provided with special detectors capable of detecting smoke from a distance of 100 meters.
The venues also benefit from GE products. During the ski jump event in Pragelato barriers made from GE's Lexan Soundglaze sheets which is protecting athletes from especially dangerous side winds on the slope. The transparent UV protected and practically unbreakable polycarbonate barriers still allow spectators a free view of the slope and the ski jumpers.
The organizers and Olympic partners always take great care to minimize the risk of injury to athletes. If however, despite all the safety measures in place, an accident should occur during the games, rapid medical assistance is often a life-saver. With the LOGIQ Book XP from GE, a portable ultrasound system weighing just 5 kg, doctors can identify injuries more effectively on site.
GE's work as a formal Worldwide Partner of the IOC began in 2005 and also covers the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games and the 2012 London Summer Games.
"Here in the Middle East, GE is also the partner of the Doha Asian Games scheduled to be held in December and we are looking forward to make this an unforgettable and successful event. In fact, just recently, GE Energy -- Rentals arm successfully completed its practice run for the games, said Habayeb.
Further information on GE is available at www.ge.com and information on GE's Olympic sponsorship activities at www.ge.com/olympicgames.
As a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Games, GE is the exclusive provider of a wide range of innovative products and services that are integral to a successful Games. From providing power, lighting, security and modular space solutions at Olympic venues to supplying ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment to help doctors treat athletes, GE works closely with the Organizing Committees, local municipalities and other Olympic Partners to understand their needs and deliver solutions that only GE can. NBC Universal, a division of GE, is the exclusive U.S. media partner of the Olympic Games. The GE and NBC Universal partnerships extend through 2012.
GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work -- a diversified technology and media company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, media content and advanced materials, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
For further information, please contact:
Anja Pegger
GE
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