Swiss Timing has the critical role of measuring athletes' times around the track or across the pool, and BT and Cisco have created the LAN, WAN and wireless networks across the Olympic venues.

Acer is the 2012 hardware partner providing PCs and servers, while Samsung and Panasonic provide mobile handsets and AV equipment respectively.

Finally Airwave and Akomi ensure there is a trunked radio network and web content delivery.

Closing ceremonies

As a clock in Trafalgar Square counts down the days to the opening ceremony on July 27, Pennell is building up to one of the biggest moments in his CIO career and in the UK's prodigious sporting history.