Cram said: "As a TV commentator at the last five Olympic Games, the technology systems delivered by Atos Origin have provided me with all the information that I need to prepare my commentary and to keep the viewers at home informed of what is happening as the competitions takes place.

"I am delighted to be the ambassador for a company which plays such a critical role in relaying information to the world as the Olympic Games happen and records are broken."

Cram was part of a golden period for British athletics which also included Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett as the trio dominated world middle-distance running.

He won the world 1500 metres title in 1983 and the following year claimed the silver medal behind Coe at the Olympics in Los Angeles.

Cram set world records in the 1500m, 2,000mand the mile during a 19-day period in the summer of 1985 and was the first man to run 1500m in under 3min 30sec.

Derek Ward, the executive vice-president for Atos Origin in the UK, said: "We are delighted to welcome Steve Cram as our ambassador in the lead up to London 2012.

"We are looking forward to working with him in the run up to and during the Games to promote our long-term role as the worldwide IT Partner for the Olympic Games in order to strengthen our UK business."

Cram is now chief athletics commentator for the BBC and will be commentating at the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

He is also chairman of the English Institute of Sport, the nationwide network of sport science and sports medical support services who have a vital role to play in the build-up to London 2012.
 
Cram's appointment builds on the existing athlete programme Atos Origin established in 2005 to offer support to young athletes who are the rising stars in their field.

Known as the Atos Origin Athlete Bursary scheme, it was developed with the support of the British Olympic Association and helps young athletes with practical initiatives such as buying kit, paying training costs and funding competition expenses.

As worldwide IT partner of the International Olympic Committee, Atos Origin works with the consortium of IT partners, and is responsible for leading the integration of the design, build and operate the massive, mission critical IT infrastructure and solutions that will support the London 2012 Games.

This includes the infrastructure and systems that will process the accreditation badges for the 200,000 members of the Olympic Family; manage staffing rotas and deliver the results to the world in less than a second.