Has technology gone too far in the quest for sporting success?

27 February 2008

Individual sports have developed over the last thousands of years with only current manufacturing capabilities, the laws of physics and imagination as the limiting factors. The development of professional sport as a spectator sport has necessitated laws to be developed for each sport to ensure that everyone plays by the same rules.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has put together a series of lecture tours which show just what a difference technology can make: the difference between winning and losing, between gold and silver.

The IET is working with Sheffield Hallam University to showcase some of the UK’s world leading research into sports equipment and technology in a pan-European tour.

The IET European Executive, said, “We feel we have created a unique series of lectures which will bring the science of engineering alive and reference it to everyday life. Understanding the link between scientific research and an Olympic gold medal is sometimes not that obvious. However, in our technological world, there are plenty of opportunities to use science and engineering to enhance performance either of athletes, products or, more commonly, the two together.”

The next lecture is taking place in Israel on Sunday 2 March at the Holton Institute of Technology. It forms part of the “What is the connection between Technology and Engineering in Modern Sport?” conference.

Dr David James, a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, will be explaining the secret of going faster, whether it is on a bicycle or a bobsled. Dr James was instrumental in the development of an Olympic track bike for the British Cycling team. In this lecture David will use his extensive subject knowledge to explore the issues that are facing the sporting world and will ask where the future might take us?

ENDS

Media contacts:

Mary Donovan
Media & PR Officer
T: +44 1438 765587
E: mdonovan@theiet.org