By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- An up-to-date technology that tracks every movement and time of players on the ice and snow will be premiered at the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics slated for next month, the official timekeeping company Omega said Wednesday.
The motion sensors to be attached to all athletes' uniforms and equipment during the Feb. 9-25 Olympics will collect their instant speed, distances, movements and angles, which will be directly sent live to TV stations, according to the Swiss-based watchmaker.
The device will be equipped on the boots of skiers, the sleds of bobsleigh athletes and skies of ski jumpers and free style skiers, boards of snow boarders and uniforms of ice hockey players.
"The motion sensor system is a brand-new technology to be presented at the PyeongChang Winter Games," Omega said. "This information will mean that people in the venues, as well as those at home watching on television, can have a far greater understanding of each sport as it happens."
On TV, viewers can see how fast alpine skiers race down the hill, and how high and fast ski jumpers take off, while sensors inside each bobsleigh will also measure the live speed, angles, trajectory and acceleration on the track, helping viewers and even the team members know where they gain or lose time.
In ice hockey, TV viewers can watch each player's movements and the team's strategic patterns on offense and defense.
"Omega's ice hockey analytical tool will provide an exciting visual representation of what is happening on the ice," it said. "Live in play, as well as during replays and game analysis, it can highlight players and the puck, track athlete and puck movement, show the speed of individual athletes, show time on ice, measure distances between players and display team formations."
For the technology, the Swiss company will provide at least 300 motion sensors at the Winter Olympics, with a total of 230 tons of timekeeping machinery and equipment.
Ski boots equipped with motion sensors are on display at Omega's flagship store in Seoul on Jan. 24, 2018. (Yonhap)
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