Sochi, the technological revolution in ice sports

OTHER than (tele) room with a view. Especially with adrenaline. And with the whole world over to ride the bob. All pilots and never disconnected in a five-wheel sport reality show. This at least will be the impression. Call it grandefratello olimpico, video game, black box, three-dimensional emotion, camera-car. But for the first time at the Sochi Games, a new type of timekeeping and television shooting begins in the bobsleigh. Much from within. In order to give the TV viewer, the feeling at 140 km an hour of being one of the crew too. And to be able to instantly evaluate speed, slowness, curve angles, where one wins and loses compared to the opponent. An on-board computer with footage that will give viewers (more than 190 million for Vancouver 2010) the chance to live, share, judge the three minutes of the race in a kind of winter Olympic self-timer. The new device consisting of a speed sensor, a 3D acceleration sensor and a 3D gyroscopic sensor, all capable of acquiring data in real time, was created by the Omega which in 1936 debuted as the official timekeeper at the Olympic Games Winter in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Then there was only one technician with just 27 stopwatches. Now, in Sochi, the timekeeper of the Swiss company will be 270. 36 debuted as official timekeeper at the Winter Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Then there was only one technician with just 27 stopwatches. Now, in Sochi, the timekeeper of the Swiss company will be 270. 36 debuted as official timekeeper at the Winter Olympic Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Then there was only one technician with just 27 stopwatches. Now, in Sochi, the timekeeper of the Swiss company will be 270.

Peter Hurzeler, with 16 Olympics behind him, is the Lord of Time of the Rings, the Omega timing manager, and explains the innovation. “The way the sport is consumed has changed, we must also pay attention to the viewers, give them a way to feel more inside the race, like Formula One, not being bored, not feeling the thrill of speed and ignoring their position in the standings. The live needs realistic images and accurate data, we started developing this technology in October 2011 and immediately the challenges started: on the one hand, the data acquired had to be sufficiently complete to serve as a basis for post-race analysis by of coaches and technicians. it was essential to have immediate wireless transmission for real-time data visualization. The first step was the combination with the single, small, light and aerodynamic bobs, the device was essential, the sensor data was recorded directly on a mini computer mounted next to the circuit inside the bob frame. Of course, at this point the system was large and heavy, but the three basic components of the sensor, the radar, the gyroscope and the accelerometer, worked well. The following year it was already possible to present the first video clip that showed the live camera recording accompanied by a graphic elaborated after the run with the synchronized data of the sensor. Many when they watch the competitions on TV think that the graphics and the projections come from the television direction instead it is Omega to supply them “. And how they reacted to the novelties federations and Cio?” The CIO is always recommended: at this point the spectator tv sees more and better than one who is on the spot and has paid the ticket, and maybe this may seem absurd, but it is also true that a worldwide audience of 200 million people should be served in a more modern way. People have to have images, data, to get excited about how to drive fast and slowly. To place the wireless antennas inside the bob we asked to be able to make a small hole in the middle that is made of carbon fiber, but some builders like McLaren who supply the bobs to the English team, didn’t really agree. So, for now the device has been mounted outside on the sides, but in the future, I believe there is a possibility of bringing it back where it is most protected. Enthusiastic response from the technicians, they will immediately have the data to understand where they win and lose the vehicle and to analyze new strategies “.

Other innovations for Sochi concern the electronic start system to discover false starts. In Vancouver it was a futuristic red gun made up of a flash weapon and a sound generator. An advanced electronic version of the starter’s pistol that resembled the revolvers of old western movies. But the sound that came out was too muffled, like a hammer on a pillow, so Hurzeler always says, we have returned to the sound of the classic shot. In speed skating where there is always a lot of confusion and for those who see difficulty in interpreting the race there will be a discreet and light transponder fixed to the left and right legs of each competitor to allow Omega to measure, record and display intermediate times and the ranking of athletes and teams during the race. So even from home you will see on the video the ideal line drawn to see if the competitor is forward or backward. All while not losing a sporting appeal that was tarnishing. When is the televoting?

(20 January 2014)