Live images from sports events are essential today to attract audiences – and sponsors. A camera that follows the competitors on aluminium rails makes this possible.
The kilometre-long rails were tested for the first time during the World Rowing Championships that took place in Duisburg, Germany, last summer. The new technology was a great success, according to Rainer Wagener from Peter Holzrichter, the company that supplied Sapa’s aluminium profiles to the rail manufacturer, Lastro Technische Systeme in Wuppertal.
“Everything went as planned, and the camera was considered well worth the investment,” he says.
For the rowers in particular the camera images provide a better chance to analyse their own performances – to see exactly what they did well and where they could improve. This addition to the course means that Duisburg will now be able to attract top athletes to more events. In winter the camera rails are also rented out to the city’s bobsleigh course.
“This analysis equipment means that Duisburg regatta course is very well equipped for the future,” says Reinhold Spaniel, sports manager for the city.
The ability to display images from the championships on giant screens next to the course offers even more benefits. Now the spectators are not just confined to the riverside – more of them can follow the events live on screen. The organisers can also supply the high-resolution video footage to tv stations, which makes the championships more appealing to sponsors.
“There was a great deal of interest in the rail-mounted camera and it’s brought a lot of enquiries from abroad. Now the engineers are working hard to bring this technology to Formula 1 racing as well,” says Wagener.
To make this possible the camera must be able to travel at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. During the rowing events it reaches 30 kilometres per hour. Longer rails will also be required. For the installation in Duisburg, 12-metre-long profiles were joined to create two parallel rails along the riverside.
Rainer Wagener emphasises that the profiles are designed to carry the weight of the 250-kilogram camera. Friction has to be minimised in order to reach high speeds. Similar rails have been used before, but those used in Duisburg are the first of their type, primarily because of their size and ease of use.
“This is the first time long aluminium profiles have been used in this way and this installation is the first successful pilot project.”
Text Ulrika Hotopp