福建师范大学外国语学院  2001级 1班   蒋露茜

Modern Olympics have covered 108-year history since Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the ancient athletic competition of Greece. In the nearly 11 decades, modern Olympics have been gifted with so many social, political and economic conceptions that they have become a worldwide event related to everyone in the global village. Apart from the torch and Olympic five-ring flag, 'Olympic Idea'--the spirit of competitions is passed down generation by generation despite the change of time and space. As for its time trait, the increasing content of high-tech in modern Olympics is obviously an inevitable tendency.

It is well--known that the Games are not only the greatest palaces of athletic sport but also the laboratory for human beings to challenge the body maximum of an individual or the groups. Many events in the Games originated from the work and wars of ancient society. For example, 'jump', 'run', 'throw' are three basic skills of hunting and fishing. With the advancement of technology and tools, the number of games has now increased to 300. And in each athletic field science and technology plays a more and more important part from routine training to sports infrastructure. People use more high-tech products to arm athletic sports, and a large number of precise apparatus to analyze or improve the process of training and competition.

Olympic coaches and athletes now exploit a wide range of mechanical video and computer devices designed to coax peak performance out of human bodies. The world-famous diving team --'Dream Team’ of China gains its everlasting reputation not only for the skills of the divers but also for the efficient training. It employed a 3D imaging system to give the divers a full view of every move starting from jumping off or diving into water and to enable them to improve themselves in every tiny detail. However, using video analysis to find faults is only half the battle. Many swimmers use the Houston-based Power Lung that looks like a glorified asthma inhaler to improve their oxygen capacity. High-tech in training seems to be a forceful aid for athletes to achieve good results. Therefore, high-tech products such as laser-examined apparatus and newly Q-2 bicycle become active and popular worldwide.

High-tech has also made great contribution to improving basic constructions and sports apparatus. Bullet-proof transparent window sheeting, multi-directional surveillance cameras and iris recognition identification monitors are just some of the space-age gadgets on display. These precise facilities can reduce objective factors that affect the participants' behaviors and the judges' decisions.

Besides the practice of high-tech devices, there are many other scientific and medical achievements giving athletes or players great help. In the 28th Olympic Games, many athletes have been sleeping high (in altitude-simulation tents) and training low and everybody has been trying to figure out how to cope with the Athenian heat. In the field of medical research, special attention is paid to inventing new medicine to cure the aches of joints and illness of the digestive systems. While people give great indulgence in using high-tech devices and means, they intensely oppose to the use of dope and other stimulant drugs that will tarnish the purity and true spirit of Olympics and offend the rules of fairness and health. In the past Olympics there were many gold winner who were stripped of their medals and sent packing by IOC when their post-race drug tests indicated dope use. It is the forceful fact that shows high-tech is used in anti-doping activities.

The world has changed; and in a period which peace and development are the two themes the Olympics are stamped with the rivalry of science and technology. The message 'Technology is the prime productive force 'is implied in the slogan 'Swifter, Stronger, Higher'. But no matter how ingenious the gear or the gadget technology has its limits. What makes an Olympian a winner depends on mainly upon muscle strength, stamina, skill and desire. Therefore it is sensible for people to consider high-tech as a double-edged sword and make best of the technological aids they can get.