So Omega finally came out with pictures proving that Michael Phelps did win over Milorad Cavic in the 100m butterfly. Still, what took them so long? Or better yet, why weren’t “official” pictures of the close finish publicized immediately?

More than ever, technology plays such a crucial role in sports. Ever since we started using photo finishes to determine the winner in cases too close for the naked eye to call, technology has helped lessen all those competitive injustices. All those replay reviews and slow-motion sequences means that it a ball that’s out will really be called out, and that there will be less chances for competitors to steal victories from much more deserving opponents.

But more importantly, technology also helps quiet the doubters and conspiracy theories. While these people play a valuable role, keeping the sporting bodies honest, nothing’s gained if they’re free to make accusations that ultimately have no merit.

The IOC, FINA, and Omega all knew how close the finish between Phelps and Cavic was. They also knew how significant Phelps’ performance was to a lot of people, especially he was gunning to win 8 gold medals and make Olympic history. In these situations, when the results of a competition are very relevant to the public, efforts must be made to be as transparent and forthcoming as possible.

Why give fuel to grumblings that do nothing for a sport’s credibility, especially if there’s no basis for all that speculation? It really didn’t help that Omega was a sponsor of Phelps, and the creation of websites like 100thofasecond.com was certainly detrimental to the reputation of the Olympic games.

The point is that all those gadgets (cameras, touchpads, etc.) used to keep track of everything happening in competitions are there. If the body evidence they provide satisfied even Cavic’s coach, then why was it so hard to share the fruits reaped by technology to the general public?

Post from: The Gadget Blog

What’s up NBC? You’ve paid millions of dollars to secure exclusive rights to the Olympics for the US market. And all you have to show for it is to be last when it comes to Olympic updates.

By now, a significant number of Americans—your target audience—have probably watched the amazing 100m dash of Usain Bolt, where he broke the world record without even breaking a sweat!

And surely lots of people have also watched Michael Phelps win 8 gold medals, especially that 100m men’s butterfly finals, where American Michael Phelps won at the last moment—by just 0.01 seconds.

But they didn’t watch it on nbcolympics.com, which only featured still photos of the events. Nor will they watch it on your delayed telecast—why watch it on TV when it’s already available on the web, right now?

You literally dropped the ball on this one NBC! You could’ve uploaded the videos on your own website, and monetized them. We wouldn’t really mind if you placed advertisements before your videos, but only if you were the first ones to make Olympic videos available online—and if it was easy to watch them on your website.

Instead, a lot of people who wanted to watch Olympic events—not necessarily as they happened had to resort to watching videos on YouTube and download torrents. Probably because you didn’t give them what they wanted?

Kawika Holbrook said it best:

NBC seems to be playing its video cards too close to its chest. Why not put everything up after they air? Why not make them embeddable on any site with a quick ad? Why now sell a daily Sports Center-like recap show on iTunes for two bucks? So many opportunities to engage us. So much fear.

Shame on you NBC, the internet holds so much potential for you to earn off it. And you’re squandering this opportunity!

Post from: The Gadget Blog