Atos Strengthens Commitment to Inclusive Digital World with Special Olympics Partnership

Tim Shriver, Special Olympics International, Chairman Novie Craven, Special Olympics International & D.C. Athlete Nacho Moros, Atos, COO, Major Games Malcolm Andrews, Special Olympics D.C. Athlete Javier Escudero, Atos, Partnerships Director Mary Davis, Special Olympics International, CEO

(IN BRIEF) In a transformative partnership, global technology leader Atos has joined forces with Special Olympics, a renowned nonprofit organization promoting inclusion through sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. As part of this collaboration, Atos will provide essential digital services across three key areas: maintaining and enhancing the Special Olympics Games Management System, ensuring robust infrastructure and security, and offering critical support for a series of flagship events. This partnership underscores Atos’ commitment to digital inclusion and builds on its extensive history of supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS/ WASHINGTON, DC, United States, 19-Oct-2023 — /EuropaWire/ —  Atos (EPA: ATO), a French multinational IT service and consulting firm leader in digital transformation, proudly announces its strategic partnership with Special Olympics, Inc., a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering understanding, acceptance, and inclusion among individuals with and without intellectual disabilities through the power of sports.

As a cornerstone of this meaningful collaboration, Atos will provide a suite of foundational digital services to support Special Olympics across three key pillars:

1. Development and Maintenance of Special Olympics Games Management System: Atos will assume responsibility for the enhancement and maintenance of the Special Olympics Games Management System. This comprehensive solution encompasses software maintenance, IT security services, and innovative enhancements. The Games Management System empowers organizers to efficiently manage personnel, volunteers, and athletes, facilitating the distribution of results, scoring, and provision of competition calendars.

2. Infrastructure Services and Robust Security: Atos will deliver essential infrastructure services and ensure robust security measures, including access management, to safeguard the integrity of the digital ecosystem.

3. Events Support: Atos will provide invaluable event support through a dedicated team of remote and on-site experts. This assistance will be instrumental during several flagship events, including the Special Olympics World Winter Test Games 2024, Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025, Special Olympics USA Test Games 2025, Special Olympics USA Games 2026, Special Olympics Unified Cup 2026, Special Olympics World Test Games 2026, and Special Olympics World Summer Games 2027.

This partnership underscores Atos’ steadfast commitment to constructing an inclusive digital world accessible to all. Atos has a rich history of creating tailored digital solutions catering to various disabilities, furthering the cause of digital inclusion.

The official signing ceremony took place on October 10, 2023, in Washington, D.C., attended by Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics, and Nacho Moros, Chief Operations Officer Major Events at Atos.

« We are happy to see Atos join our family and bring us its technological expertise developed over more than 30 years with major sporting events. Alongside them, we want to innovate and continue to be as inclusive as possible so that all people who have an intellectual disability can thrive through sport. » said Mary Davis, CEO Special Olympics International.

« As a company with over 30 years of experience supporting major sporting events, it made sense for Atos to partner with Special Olympics, an organization which, through sport, wishes to create a more inclusive world. We are delighted to support them in their events all around the world, starting with the World Winter Test Games 2024. » added Nacho Moros, Chief Operations Officer, Major Event, Atos.

In its dedication to fostering inclusive environments, Atos has developed a dedicated Accessibility & Digital Inclusion program that extends across all facets of its operations. This program encompasses accessible and assistive technology services, allowing customers to fulfill their legal and ethical obligations while maximizing their employees’ contributions, irrespective of disability or impairment. Atos has also instituted Digital Accessibility Specialist apprenticeships, an internal Accessibility Champions program, and devised job-specific curricula on embedding Accessibility.

With a strong history of supporting the Olympic and Paralympic Movements since 2002 and 2008 respectively, as a Worldwide IT Partner, Atos continues to be at the forefront of technological innovation in the world of sports. Furthermore, Atos holds the esteemed position of Official Technology and Digital Services Partner of the European Olympic Committee for the 2023 and 2027 editions of the European Games and serves as the Official Information Technology Partner of UEFA National Team Football until 2030.

Atos is distinguished as the sole international IT services company with a specialized sports and major events division known as “Major Events.” For detailed insights into Atos’ innovative solutions for sporting events and major gatherings, please visit the Atos website.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 107,000 employees and annual revenue of c. € 11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high-performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 69 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), and listed on Euronext Paris.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

About Tech Foundations

Tech Foundations is the Atos Group business line leading in managed services, focusing on hybrid cloud infrastructure, employee experience and technology services, through decarbonized, automated and AI-enabled solutions. Its 52,000 employees advance what matters to the world’s businesses, institutions and communities. It is present in 69 countries, with an annual revenue of € 6 billion.

About Special Olympics

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With more than six million athletes and Unified Sports partners and one million coaches and volunteers in over 200 accredited Programs, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 games and competitions every year.
Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org

Press contacts

Atos: Florence Vayleux | florence.vayleux@atos.net | +33 (0) 6 18 46 59 97

Special Olympics International: Megan Gausemel | mgausemel@specialolympics.org | +1 202-570-8628

SOURCE: Atos SE