Beijing Games: Where sports meet technology

Beijing Games: Where sports meet technology

How China is banking on technology to boost the Olympics a different experience

Prasad Ramasubramanian

Thursday, August 07, 2008

May the Games Begin?

From television channels to internet sites, Beijing Olympics is being covered in every angle possible and China has revamped the way the world looks at it and joins the list of a few Asian nations to host the Olympics.

To meet the huge influx of visitors, media personnel, players and dignitaries, China, not surprisingly, banked on technology to boost the Games’ experience and how.

Infrastructure upgradation

For any games to be a successful the role of infrastructure is critical.

Akin to Japan that commenced the now famous Bullet Train way back in 1964 as a curtain raiser to the games, China joined the bandwagon and started its Beijing-Tianjin railway line in which trains clocked speed of 217 miles per hour.

For this monumental exercise, a lethal blend of Sifang Locomotive, Siemens Velaro CRH 3 and Rolling Stock manufactured CRH units were used to put in place a rail service that was the best in the world.

But before that, Beijing International Airport unfurled the Airport’s Terminal 3 which is a marvelous structure -- half a mile wide and over two miles long and designed by the famous architect from Great Britain Norman Foster, reminding you of the shape of dragon.

The Beijing Capital Express Rail Project got a technology boost from Motorola when it provided its TETRA digital trunk radio communications system. This system offers reliable support for the unpiloted rail line from the airport to the station.

The whole solution engages two trunk underground base stations, 20 trunk vehicle mounted stations, trunk ground base stations, seven fixed stations, 114 user terminals and a variety of applications which would amalgamate radio communications into the daily operations of the Capital Airport’s Express Rail service.

The rail system will be an effective way to alleviate pressure on the Capital Airport’s currently overburdened transportation system. Reliable and efficient radio dispatching communications will ensure normal and safe operation of the express rail.

The decision was made to adopt high technology because of the need for smoothly flowing traffic between midtown Beijing and the Capital Airport.

“Through our expertise in transportation communications and our advanced digital trunk radio system technology, we believe we are contributing in a small way to the safe passage of visitors and Beijing citizens during and after the 2008 Olympics,” avers Chew Hocksiong, general manager of Motorola China Government and Public Security of Enterprise Mobility Solutions.

Green Games

Rail routes and airports were not the only ones that underwent a makeover. Roads too saw not just upgradation but an overhaul to suit green language, which the world is speaking.

The 500 vehicles that would be shuttling from different venues to the Olympics Village would be powered by batteries, mixed fuel and electricity -- making it zero emission means of transportation.

Now, this would bring down the carbon-dioxide release by about 2510 tons and accumulate over 780 tons of diesel and gasoline.

And then, global cola giant Coca-Cola has begun offering vending machines and coolers which are environment friendly, at the Beijing 2008 Olympics at all official venues.

Termed Greenfreeze technology across the world, Coca-Cola came up with refrigeration paraphernalia on a commercial scale and had earlier put forth HFC (Hydro Fluoro Carbon) free refrigeration components during the last Olympics in Athens and 2006 Winter Olympic Games.

About 6350 environment-friendly units are being placed by the Cola giant across the venues thereby reducing the greenhouse gas emission by about 45,000 metric tons.

Who’s doing what?

If French IT major ATOS Origin is developing the computer network at the Olympics, GE (General Electric) would be offering its expertise in security systems like alarm systems, lighting, power and, not to forget, developing ultrasound for the physicians to take care of the athletes.

Kodak, which has been associated with the Olympics since the first modern games began in Athens, Greece in 1896, would be offering its solutions in providing Olympic ID badges, imaging center for all the photojournalists who could be arriving from across the world.

Panasonic, which has been partnering Olympics for the last two decades, would be putting across 2000 close circuit cameras at the venue and make Beijing Olympics the first ever Games to be broadcasted in HD (high definition) television screens.

Lenovo, China’s leading PC manufacturer, would display its technological dexterity that has been instrumental in designing the high-tech torch of Olympics, built to even glow in full swing atop the Mt. Everest.

Extremely lightweight at just about 2.21 pounds and measuring 28.35" x 1.97" x 1.56", the torch sports a bright silver and deep red colour. The team which designed the torch spent over 10 months in its design with over 30 design specialists being involved from across the world.

The unthinkable!!

The Games which would see technology and sports running, swimming, dribbling and holding hands together at the podium, would witness China attempting to do the unthinkable.

In order to ensure that weather gods do not disturb athletes and people who are watching these athletes perform, Beijing Meteorological Bureau have taken help of Silver Iodide. Silver Iodide is used as a catalyst to avert the formation of clouds.

Authorities have also ensured that these seeding agents are fired by anti-aircraft guns even before clouds can even think of reaching the stadium where the games are being held, leaving its perspiration at the surrounding area of the games arena.

The main stadium, which is an architectural marvel, is called the Bird’s Nest and has the company of Water Cube for those countless visitors to witness the drama with players from across the world participate.

Armed to win If you thought science was being used only in designing infrastructure and stadiums, think again. From caps, goggles to swimsuits for men and women, it’s science all the way.

The seamless sportswear from Speedo swimwear augments speed in water bringing down drag and giving you a sure shot at standing at the podium. If swimmers are using technology, how could the cyclists be behind?

Theo Bos, the Dutch qualifier would be riding on a bicycle designed by Koga Miyata. This bike does not have brakes, could slice air akin to a knife slicing through a slice of butter. Theo surely knows how to drive to the top of the podium.

If this was not enough, Nike came out with PRECOOL vest range designed specially for the Olympics. The dress, a mixture of plastic, recycled sneaker and metal paint, is made to dawdle down the rise of temperature of the body before the commencement of games. Athletes must wear them an hour before their game for best results.

And companies are ensuring that those who are not present in Beijing get to see it on your television screens, on your computer screens via streaming videos and even on your broadband devices.

Sportswear companies such as Nike are ensuring that the sportsmen use their innovative technologies to good effect to lay their hands on the medals.

Even as science and technology have increased the chances of players to come better prepared for these Games, the presence of natural and raw talent such as Cassius Clay or a certain Jesse Owens cannot be ruled out.

For the other mortals who are vying for greatness, technology certainly has played the role of a messiah.

May the Games begin!

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