technology makes hangzhou games unforgettable
the digital torchbearer expresses love to people around the world at the closing ceremony. (photo: s&t daily zhou weihai)
by zong shihan
the 19th asian games in hangzhou came to a perfect close on october 8. the combination of technology and sports made it not only a grand sports event but also a technological feast.
technology for efficient and safe games
intelligent technology was one of the major elements of the hangzhou games, making it the first "smart asian games". it was employed in all aspects, improving operational efficiency and ensuring safety of the event.
the wenzhou sports center stadium, the venue for football matches, used an intelligent grass care system to maintain the turf. embedded sensors managed the entire lifecycle of the grass, making maintenance work "smart". the eight giant telescoping light poles, besides meeting the high-definition broadcasting criteria for professional sports, also enhanced safety since they could be collapsed in case of bad weather such as typhoons.
the hangzhou qi-yuan (zhili) chess hall, the venue for both chess and go competitions, used the knx intelligent lighting control system, a new version independently produced in china, which both provided suitable lighting for the competitions and saved energy.
on the track and field, robot dogs facilitated discus throws. the robots fetched the discuses back and forth for about seven kilometers in each game, reducing human workload. for table tennis players, ai xu xin, a robot with arms modeled on the moves of olympic champion xu xin, was the perfect partner to train with, uncomplaining and tireless.
technology for immersive watching
at the venues, intelligent watching extended the audience’s visual and auditory experience, creating a new immersive watching experience. they could participate in various activities through ar navigation, mascot greetings, knowledge popularization, and other services.
for those who could not attend in person, the integration of ai, ar, iot and 5g technologies enabled multi-person, multi-terminal viewing where they could experience immersive viewing on their mobile phones or by using ar glasses.
at the opening ceremony, millions of digital torchbearers coalesced into a single one to light the games torch. at the closing ceremony, the digital torchbearer reappeared with a message of love for people around the world. many individuals had been selected to be the digital torchbearers, enabling more people to participate in the hangzhou games and strengthen solidarity.
even when the spectators left the venues, technology provided a way to keep the memories fresh in their hearts. handmade postcards and memory flowers, a blend of lotus and osmanthus flowers integrated by ai technology and printed using 3d technology, provided unique souvenirs to commemorate the unforgettable event.
