Paul Hardy and Davide Bricarelli during the IAAF Daily Press Briefing - Berlin 2009 - 15 Aug 2009 (© Getty Images)
The first of the IAAF Daily Briefings for media was held at the Olympic Stadium ahead of today’s opening evening session at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (15 - 23 Aug).
The guests attending from the IAAF were Communications Director Nick Davies, Competitions Director Paul Hardy, from the Local Organising Committee CEO Heinrich Clausen, and from Delta-Tre / Epson Davide Bricarelli.
The theme was ‘Competition’ especially the technical innovations with regard to performance measurement and event presentation.
Road Events – out of stadium
“For all those who were there earlier today I’m sure you’ll agree it (the centre of the city) really was a great setting today for the race walking,” said Hardy.
“Via our Competition Commission, we (the IAAF) are continuously reviewing our presentation of athletics. In a changing world we need to change too… and I am glad we listened to the suggestion Heinrich (Clausen) and his Local Organising Committee team to hold the start and finish of the Race Walks out of the stadium at the World Championships.”
“The images we present to the world come across so much better this way.”
Transparent netting – Discus Cage
“What you won’t see here (in Berlin) is some of the more recent innovations. We hope you literally won’t see the netting of the Discus Throw cage, as the equipment supplier of these championships have come-up, with what is hopefully a completely transparent netting which will aid viewing of the event.”
VDM – last trial ahead of World Indoors
“Another innovation which you won’t see in the stadium but which is taking place is VDM (video distance measurement) which is a new technology and the way forward.”
“Seiko have come up with a system, its being used as a back-up system here, Berlin is its last test as it has been trialed for three to four years now. It works like a photo-finish system. People behind the scenes in the stadium with high definition video equipment are measuring the distances in the Long and Triple Jumps.”
“This (VDM) will come into action for the first as the official measurement system at the 2010 World Indoor champs in Doha next winter.”
“The future will be VDM and we are working with our partner Seiko to provide the same system for the throws too.”
Evening sessions – only semis and Finals
“We are also looking at timetables… and there will only be semi-finals and finals in evening sessions of future World Championships… we are also discussing the numbers of days of the championships.”
SPECTATOR FIGURES Olympic Stadium - 15 AUG
Stadium spectators - TOTAL: 67,846
Morning: 25,300
Evening: 42,546
Chris Turner for the IAAF
