Here are some free-to-use ideas for future televised olympics and other major athletics events. Hope to see these on TV. Please SHARE if you want to see these on TV in the future as well. Feel free to add your own ideas as comments :)

1. Suggestions to use advanced screen
technologies to better serve TV
viewers in athletics
Juha Lipponen
Järvenpää
Finland

2. Backround
• Screen information technology in TV sports hasn’t
developed much in 20-30 years. We have seen the same
field graphics in throws and jumps for years.
• The technology needed to display more information for TV
viewers exists already and costs next to nothing.
• In following slides you’ll find some ideas to give detailed
information for sports viewers on the performances.
– This information is great for both amateur enthusiasts for their
couch speculation and for professional analysts as well
• These ideas are free to be used. I just want to see them on
TV 

3. High Jump and Pole Vault ”clearance” view
Photocells embedded into the stands. Maybe doable with just analysing the
image. Clearence measurement displayed on the screen in Replay.

4. Throws speed and angle view
Throw is measured with Kinect. Throw angle and velocity are displayed on the
screen. The numbers are shown in slow replay.

5. Long and triple jump speed and angle at board
Jump at the board is measured with Kinect at takeoff. Jump angle and velocity
are displayed on the screen. The numbers are shown in slow replay.

6. Semifinals time qualifying target, ”q”
In semifinals of 400 to 3000 m runs there is a rolling ”q” line (or a virtual runner figure)
on the screen indicating the speed of currently time qualifier in 2nd heat onwards. Gives
information to viewers of what running speed is needed to qualify with time.
Also, similar graphics to be used in Decathlon and Heptathlon final runs to actually see
the fight for medals live.

7. GPS tracking of Walk and Marathon runners
In orienteering, it is state of the art to follow the runners with GPS. In Olympic walks
and marathon runs both the TV viewers and commentators are clueless most of the time
of what happens in farther back in the run. What is the actual distance/time
difference, who is gaining or dropping etc. National commentators can include graphics
of the runners of their own nationality on the screen or follow other particular runners.
Leader
2nd
3rd
.
.
.
John Doe (18th)
Closing the lead by 12m/km