The 2004 Olympics in Athens is expected to generate over 12,000 different types of reports during the 17 days of the games, using an estimated 200 million pieces of paper.

The reports will have detailed information about results of the competitions across 28 different sports. They will also include weather reports, start lists, statistics and biographies of the athletes.

'As far as we're concerned, the real action only starts once the athlete crosses the finish line,' said Mark Smiley, logistics manager for the Xerox Olympic Team.

Once a competition finishes, the results are recorded by the official timer, Swatch, on a PC. A copy goes to the event judge for verification, and the result will be allocated a number which corresponds to a distribution list. Volunteers begin with the copying process and the reports are delivered by runners.

Smiley says some clients have higher precedence for results - press and broadcasters will be top priority.

'Also, some reports have higher priority than others. Start lists and official results have the highest priority,' he said.

Xerox will transport, install and maintain over 6 000 pieces of equipment at more than 140 different venues in Greece - 2 000 more devices than the last Olympic Games in Sydney.

Vince Schaeffer, manager, world wide operations for Xerox, says one of the main reasons for the growth in document systems is that during the last games, people walked to the IT. This time there is a more personalised environment, as if the technology is coming to the individuals, he says.

Xerox also says it has created a technology operations centre from which devices used for the Olympic Games can be monitored. Every competition venue should be online for 16 out of 24 hours.