107th IOC Session - LA84 Foundation

Timing and Scoring
• Development and Testing
NAOC selected Seiko as its partner for timing
and scoring. Technology supplied by
Seiko included equipment and backup systems
for starting, intermediate, and finishing
points, scoreboard modules, and connections
with other partner systems. Timing and scoring
equipment was developed to meet the latest
competition rules and regulations of the
International Federations, as well as the
requirements of users. Timing and scoring
data were sent to the results system,
ORTO ’98, CBS, and the Nagano Olympic
Japan Consortium (NOJC), and were utilised
for competition results lists, displays on scoreboards,
and television graphics.
After the development phase, the timing, results,
and ORTO ’98 systems were connected
for integration testing to verify inter-system
compatibility. Tests were conducted for all
events on the Sports Programme at the
Nagano Games under the supervision of the
technical delegates from the IFs, and all systems
were approved. For ski jumping, the distance
measurement system was utilised at
several competitions under the supervision of
sports federation officials, and approval from
the FIS obtained.
• Participation in the International
Competitions Prior to the Games
Seiko was the official timing and scoring
sponsor during the ICPGs, except at the 1997
World Short Track Speed Skating
Championships for Ladies and Men which already
had a timing and scoring company contracted
by the ISU. Seiko not only provided
equipment, but also assigned staff who would
be working at venues during the Games. The
Japanese national federations similarly assigned
staff to operate the systems.
• Scoreboards
By the autumn of 1996, scoreboards for the
ski jumping, cross-country skiing, and
biathlon venues, as well as the centre cubic in
Big Hat had been set up. Remaining scoreboards
– four at alpine skiing, one at snowboard
halfpipe, and two at freestyle skiing,
plus the centre cubic in Aqua Wing – were installed
by the following autumn. At indoor
venues such as White Ring and M-Wave,
scoreboards and/or giant video displays already
installed as part of the parmanent facility
were utilised.
• Support staff
During the Games, 116 people in 18 scoreboard
maintenance teams, and nine Seiko
technicians, operated and maintained the
scoreboards. An additional support staff of
more than 200 people comprising competition
officials and volunteers was on hand for
equipment maintenance and integration
testing. The maintenance of results backup
10. Technology
All systems underwent
comprehensive and
thorough testing (M-
Wave).
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