Commonwealth Games IT contract awarded

Birmingham 2022 appoints IT firm NVT Group as official provider for the Games.

One of the UK’s top IT firms has been awarded two major contracts to deliver the IT services that will help stage the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow-based NVT Group has been named the Official IT Services Provider for the Games. The firm already has an impressive track record in providing IT design, technology integration and support services for a series of UK and European sporting events, including the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014, the 2015 European Games in Baku and the European Championships in 2018.

NVT, which is based in the West of Scotland, will deliver IT Services for Birmingham 2022 in conjunction with a Birmingham-based partner. As well as passing on its expertise of driving technology at major sporting events, NVT also views Birmingham 2022 as a golden opportunity to engage with West Midlands-based technology firms and showcase some of the world’s best integration and management technology.

As part of this activity, the company will be inviting local IT firms to visit the Technology Operations Centre in the run up to the Games and to experience first-hand how the technology will keep everything moving.

Hamish Fraser, Group Managing Director of NVT (pictured) said: “We are delighted to be given this opportunity. Birmingham 2022 is the biggest sporting event to be held in the UK since the London 2012 Olympic Games, and we’re eager to work with our partners in the West Midlands to help deliver a magnificent sporting and cultural event. We are absolutely committed to helping deliver for the people of Birmingham an event of which they can be proud and which will live long in their memories.”

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28th July until 8th August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region and its people on a global stage. The event is expected to have a global TV audience of 1.5 billion, will attract more than one million spectators and will welcome competitors from 72 nations and territories.

The firm will deploy a unique integrated infrastructure monitoring and reporting technology called Concepta which has helped maintain the flow of information at five previous major sporting events. The system instantly identifies where IT support teams are most needed as well as monitors key IT systems across all competition and non-competition venues using a contextually-aware alert system.

Support will also be provided by another of NVT’s product suite, Viia, the private cloud platform that will host the data generated on each venue.

Hamish Fraser added: “The unique technology we use has been tried and tested across the world at major sporting events, but we’re eager to share it with local firms as a means of leaving a legacy imprint at Birmingham 2022 and helping British technology remain at the cutting edge of global communications infrastructures.”

Ian Reid, Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham 2022, said: “We are delighted to have a renowned and leading firm in NVT Group come on board as Official IT Services Provider for Birmingham 2022. In addition to previous Commonwealth Games experience, NVT has a strong reputation in the sports event sector, making it the ideal company to work with to provide the advanced technology infrastructure that is fundamental in delivering a seamless Games.

“Its commitment to providing opportunities for local firms in the West Midlands to get involved is also welcomed. We look forward to leveraging NVT’s expertise to deliver a successful global multi-sports event and welcoming them to the Birmingham 2022 sponsor family.”

CGF CEO David Grevemberg CBE said: “I am thrilled to welcome NVT Group as the Official IT Services Provider for Birmingham 2022. Having partnered with Glasgow 2014, NVT Group understands the Commonwealth Sport brand and shares our values.

“With a wide range of experience in delivering outstanding IT services for major sport events, NVT will be an outstanding partner while their commitment to providing local IT firms with opportunities is a huge boost to the West Midlands.

“I would also like to thank our CGF Partnerships team for their role in continuing to attract the world’s leading organisations to partner with Birmingham 2022. It represents a huge vote of confidence in the region and in the vision and values of the Commonwealth Sport Movement.”