The Olympics, which is conducted once every four years, is anticipated by people all around the world. Many athletes train vigorously to qualify and proudly represent their respective countries to compete in this multi-international event. While many supporters enthusiastically cheer on their country and favourite athletes from their own homes or watch it in person. The most recent Olympics was hosted by Tokyo, Japan with strict Covid-19 regulations considering the ongoing pandemic. This year’s host country caught the attention of the public due to the vast amount of technology being displayed, such as the use of robots to help with deliveries and assistance. With that, it is hard to remember that the very first Olympics happened in Athens in 1896. Throughout those years, new discoveries and innovations have been developed. Hence, the evolution of technology has helped athletes better observe their performance, reduce human error, and reach a wider audience.
First of all, athletes are able to track their performance before, during, and after the competition. It will help them maximise their performance by identifying any strengths and weaknesses that might not be established simply by observing their performance without the help of any tracking devices like how it was done in the original Olympics. Other than the advancement of sportswear, there are different types of technology used in Tokyo 2020 which can measure their speed, heart rate, and even the kinematics in which the ball is thrown. One of the technologies is called the 3D Athlete Tracking (3DAT), which is specifically used for track and field events. It measures the speed of the athlete from the start to the end of the race. Furthermore, Panasonic has released contactless vital sensing which recognizes the athlete’s heartbeat. This innovation was used in archery to determine the felt by the players. Lastly, a high-tech brain imaging technique that uses EEG sensors known as Focus Calm is used to analyze the change in mood of the athletes. Usually, it is used to calm the athletes down before a match to reduce stress and pressure. Thus, these new developments allow the athletes to know what to focus on during training to ensure maximum performance.
Secondly, there are many different types of technology sensors and cameras that can help the referees’ judgment in a sporting competition. Back then, they did not have these advancements yet, which makes these judgments prone to bias and human error. Especially before the innovation of high-definition cameras, the match could not be replayed and judges would only have one chance to make the call. One such technology used in sports events such as badminton, tennis, and volleyball is called Hawk-Eye. This is an innovation owned by Sony which analyzes the kinematics of the ball, with one such example being where the ball lands. In the case in which a player challenges the opposition’s point, a visual track will be shown to see if it is outside of the line or not. Other than that, some sports such as football have an additional refereeing process with Video Assistant Referees (VAR). These referees will be in a separate room where they can pause, replay, or even speed the footage. There is also a sensor on the goal post that can help determine whether the ball is considered a goal or not. With the help of these technologies, these Video Assistant Referees (VAR) are responsible for the judgment call for penalties, goals, and red cards. Hence, the technology used to aid a referee in making a judgment call will create a more impartial and engaging game.
Lastly, the most evident technological advancement felt all around the world was the development of broadcasting technology. In the very first Olympics, people who wanted to watch the game would have to be there in person to do so since there was no television back then. Additionally, newspapers were only delivered to people within limited areas. As a consequence, very few people knew about the Olympics in the first place. In 1896, only 13 nations competed in the Olympics compared to the latest games where 206 nations competed. Since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics happened during a global pandemic, spectators were not allowed to watch the game in person. Particularly since there were strict social distancing restrictions due to the global pandemic. However, there were many high-definition cameras surrounding the match which allowed viewers to watch from different angles as if they were watching in person. Besides that, social media, online news, and streaming sites are available in case they did not get to watch the live match. All in all, these broadcasting technologies allow people all around the world to still feel connected despite not being physically close to each other.
By looking at the past, we become more aware of the significant impacts brought by these technological advances in the context of international sporting events. To summarize, it allows us to keep track of things we are not able to identify simply through observation such as heart rate and speed; assists referees to make a more accurate judgment; and allows people all around the world to become more connected. In conclusion, the world will continue to discover and develop new innovations that will assist people around the world.
Works Cited
Guillermo Martinez Arastey. “Sport Performance Analysis.” Sport Performance Analysis, 6 Nov. 2019, www.sportperformanceanalysis.com/article/application-of-video-technology-in-football-refereeing-var.
Hauck, Matthew. “Data in Sports Performance: Why Your Measurements Matter - SimpliFaster.” SimpliFaster, 7 Mar. 2017, simplifaster.com/articles/data-sports-performance-measurements-matter/.
“Hawk-Eye.” Hawkeyeinnovations.com, 2018, www.hawkeyeinnovations.com/sports/badminton.
Lim Chee Wah. “5 Tech and Design Innovations at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.” Time out Tokyo, Time Out, 30 July 2021, www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/5-tech-and-design-innovations-at-the-tokyo-2020-olympics-073021. #olympics #sports #technology
“Tokyo Summer Olympics: What Are the Hottest Tech Innovations? - PreScouter - Custom Intelligence from a Global Network of Experts.” PreScouter, 3 Aug. 2021, www.prescouter.com/2021/08/tokyo-summer-olympics-what-are-the-hottest-tech-innovations/.
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