Track World Continues to Run with State-of-the-art Technology

The 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics start this weekend in Daegu, South Korea, and Team Canada is sending 32 athletes, 13 of which are making their first appearance at a World Championships. The venue, Daegu Stadium, previously hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2003 Universiade.

Sport and technology continue to join forces, as this major sporting event on the global calendar will benefit from state-of-the-art technology with high-definition electronic signboards and high-tech unmanned equipment, including the sand arranger at jumping pits and the radio controlled throwing event implement retriever.

Of particular anticipation for these World Championships is the implementation of the new Video Distance Measurement (VDM) system. Previously, officials measured the horizontal jumps with the Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) system which computes the jumpers distance via a light signal exchange from a module placed in the sand pit. Used for the first time ever at the track championships, the VDM utilizes two high-definition video cameras placed in the stands, overlooking the landing pits. When the jumper leaves a mark in the pit, the cameras capture a series of images of that mark, placing a cursor to the right point, and then the computer calculates the distance. This information is immediately validated and distributed to the results service, scoreboards and TV. The benefits of the VDM are that it produces a result much faster (saving 15 seconds per jump), the risk of human error is reduced, the system offers complete accountability (video archives), and the VDM enhances the visibility and excitement of the sport by making the jumping pits less cluttered with people and equipment.

The IAAF World Championships in Athletics has never been staged in mainland Asia, although it has taken place twice in Japan. Over 2500 athletes from 207 countries will compete over nine days starting on Saturday, August 27.

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Photos courtesy of the International Association of Athletics Federations