The Olympics is the pinnacle of athletic competition, where the world’s best athletes push the limits of human performance. But behind the scenes, an equally impressive technological feat is taking place to precisely measure and record their achievements.
From the moment an athlete leaves the starting blocks to the instant they cross the finish line, a complex system of cameras, sensors, and computers is at work capturing every millisecond.
At the heart of this high-tech timekeeping operation is OMEGA, the official timekeeper of the Olympics since 1932. Over the decades, OMEGA has pioneered numerous innovations that have revolutionized how sports are timed.
In 1948, they introduced the “Magic Eye” photoelectric cells that could record times to one-hundredth of a second when an athlete broke the finish line beam. This was a major leap from the manual stopwatches used previously, which were prone to human error and reaction time delays.
For instance, the 1960 Rome Olympics featured a 100 meters freestyle final where Australian swimmer John Devitt and American Lance Larson finished so closely that the outcome was nearly impossible to determine. This reliance on human timing created uncertainty and highlighted the limitations of manual systems in accurately capturing such close finishes.
Another breakthrough came in 1968 with the advent of touchpads in swimming events. These electronic pads installed at the end of each lane instantly register a swimmer’s finish time when they make contact. This eliminated the need for judges to visually determine the order of finish, which was often too close to call with the naked eye. The touchpad system is now an integral part of every Olympic swimming competition.
While touchpads revolutionized swimming, other sports like track and field still rely on high-speed cameras to capture the finish.
OMEGA’s photofinish cameras can shoot up to 10,000 frames per second, allowing officials to determine the exact order of finish and times down to one-thousandth of a second. The cameras use a narrow vertical slit to expose the film, creating a continuous image of the finish line as athletes cross it. This “slit-scan” technique produces a detailed strip showing each runner’s position at the line.
To ensure the accuracy of these photofinish images, OMEGA employs a sophisticated calibration process. Before each race, the cameras are aligned with a set of precisely spaced LED lights that flash at known intervals. By analyzing the spacing of these flashes in the final image, officials can verify that the camera was operating at the correct speed and that the times recorded are accurate.
The introduction of electronic starting blocks in 1984 was another major advance in Olympic timekeeping. These blocks are equipped with sensors that can detect if an athlete leaves the blocks before the starting gun fires, resulting in a false start. The blocks measure the force an athlete applies to the pedals 4,000 times per second, allowing them to pinpoint the exact moment of departure with incredible precision.
In recent years, OMEGA has pushed the boundaries of timekeeping technology even further with the introduction of motion sensors and positioning systems. One significant example occurred during the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the men’s 100 meters final.
Usain Bolt won the race in a world-record time of 9.69 seconds, but the finish was so close that the timing systems had to work flawlessly to determine the exact results. The precision of the timing equipment was put to the test, and the successful outcome underscored the importance of continuous advancements in timing technology to meet the demands of increasingly competitive events.
At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, they outfitted bobsleds with sensors that could track speed, acceleration, and other performance metrics. These sensors are now being adapted for use in other sports, such as swimming and athletics, to provide real-time data on an athlete’s speed, stroke rate, and other key performance indicators.
One of the most exciting applications of this sensor technology is in track cycling, where it is being used to measure the speed of riders to one-thousandth of a second. This level of precision is necessary because the times between riders can be so close, often separated by just a few hundredths of a second. The sensors are embedded in the track and can detect when a rider’s bike passes over them, allowing officials to accurately measure lap times and speeds.
But it’s not just about measuring times and speeds. OMEGA’s technology is also being used to enhance the viewing experience for fans. In gymnastics, for example, pose detection algorithms are being used to analyze the movements of athletes and provide real-time feedback on their performance. This data can be displayed on TV graphics, allowing viewers to better understand the difficulty and execution of each routine.
Looking ahead, the future of Olympic timekeeping is sure to be even more high-tech and data-driven. OMEGA is already experimenting with augmented reality and virtual reality applications that could allow fans to experience events from the perspective of the athletes themselves. They are also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to provide more detailed analysis and insights into athletic performance.
