15 December 2006

Do muscles recover faster in the AM or PM?@final sprint

A study from France shows that it takes longer to recover from hard exercise in the evening than in the morning (Int J Sports Med 27, 2006).

Cyclists performed ten six-second bouts of all out effort, with 30-second rest periods while the researchers measured peak power output, total mechanical work, peak pedaling rate, and peak efficient torque. The same group of cyclists performed these workouts in the morning on one day, and in the evening on another day. They found that the short-term recovery patterns were slower in the evening than in the morning.

13 December 2006

IOC Athletes’ Career Programme

Assisting athletes in their career development during and after competition@IOC

After the Games, 97 per cent of athletes are unsure about their professional careers, what will happen to them psychologically and professionally.

Based on this assessment, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Adecco decided to join forces, and in 2005 launched the Athletes’ Career Programme (ACP), which endeavours to answer these questions and provide concrete solutions.

The ACP mission: enhance the life of Olympic and Paralympic athletes

12 November 2006

Canada high performance strategies

Sport Leader Dr. Peter Davis Joins Canada's Own the Podium 2010 and Road to Excellence Initiatives@Canadian Olympic Committee

Former Director of the Coaching and Sport Sciences Division for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Dr. Peter Davis is joining Canada's winter and summer sport technical initiatives as Director Sport Science, Medicine and Technology. Davis, who will be based in Calgary, has relocated to Canada from Australia, and will commence his responsibilities with the Own the Podium 2010 and Road to Excellence initiatives on November 1, 2006.

Own the Podium 2010

Road to Excellence Business Plan

17 October 2006

AIS new Recovery and Swimming Centre

High-tech feature for new AIS swim pool@AIS

Senator Kemp opened the $17 million AIS Recovery and Swimming Centre, which boasts one of the world’s most technologically-advanced pools, purpose built to boost the development and strength of Australian swimming.

Performance analysis and monitoring systems packed into the pool—instrumented walls and blocks, touch pads, magnetic timing gates and 24 fixed cameras—will allow coaches and sports scientists to tap into a wealth of data and video footage about many aspects of the AIS swimmer’s performance in training.

The Centre also features state-of-the art Hydrotherapy and Recovery facilities—three spa baths, a plunge pool, a cold water walk through and a river for active recovery and stretching.

Technical facts about AIS Recovery and Swimming Centre

• 50 metres, 10 Lanes (25 metres wide).

• Moveable boom—allows flexibility to quickly change the length of the pool without the need to swap lane ropes for short course and other distances. (The lane ropes pass through the boom rather than attach to it). Large lane rope markers will reduce turbulence.

• High-quality water filtration—allows for a completely clear underwater view of the full length of pool which contributes to underwater filming.

• Enclosed and open-air —open pool walls and roof windows maximise the use of natural light and to enhance the training conditions.

• Underwater viewing—windows allow easy viewing of swimmers at the end of each lane and from sides windows.

• Magnetic Timing System—raised from the floor at key distances to measure split times at specific distances from the end wall which make up key components of a race.

• Filming Control Room—air-conditioned environment for computer equipment—allows for all video, data, and voice communications to be patched through to computer facilities to monitor the technique and performance of elite swimmers. Two control rooms contain a large plasma screen which swimmers can view without getting out of the pool.

• 3D magnetic computerised modelling system— creates accurate 3D skeletal frame model of swimmer actually swimming. Allows for computerised model analysis of the swimmer’s action.

• Digital displays— future panels will provide read-outs at the pool end to provide instant feedback about the technique and performance of AIS swimmers.

• Resistance training devices—(bungy cords) can be fitted to tracks in lanes 2 and 7.

• Pacing lights system—could be installed down the track.

Performance analysis devices and biomechanical systems

• Instrumented start blocks—measures the force, acceleration, angle and timing of swimmers off the blocks.

• Instrumented wall—concealed behind touch pads on three lanes— provide data on force, acceleration, push off angle and timing for the swimmer’s turns and backstroke starts.

• Camera tracking—above and below water camera angles provide coordinated video footage of swimmers. Permanent concealed tracks allow camera trolley to move alongside a swimmer.

• Analysis data and video images are fed into the video control room linked to AIS IT systems as well as being displayed on the plasma screen as part of the biomechanical analysis process.

State-of-the-art Hydrotherapy and Recovery Centre

• Provides a wide range of recovery options for both active (walking, stretching) and passive recovery in both warm (28-38 degrees C) and cold water (11 degrees C).

03 October 2006

ASPIRE Talent Identification Program

ASPIRE Talent Identification Program Goes Gold@ASPIRE

The program tested 5,000 male students and 3,000 female students with a final pool of 60 student athletes.

Singapore's plan to become a sporting nation

Sports Council on track to achieve Sporting Singapore target@CNA

The Government pledged S$500 million to kick-start recommendations in three main areas - Sports Excellence, Participation and Industry.

29 September 2006

UK COE of coaching

UK Olympic and Legacy Hopes Boosted by Coaching Centres@UK Sport

An initial focus will be the nurturing and support of Talent Development Coaches, who are capable of working with talented young performers, (including potential stars of the London games). With their unique position, Coaching Centres will also be best placed to target the coaching needs of young people, adults and high performance athletes.

A UK Centre of Coaching Excellence in sport and disability sport will also be established. The Centre will include a UK-wide consortium of key agencies and individuals with proven track records in coaching and coach education. It will act as a focal point for the education and development of sports coaches to the highest level.

25 August 2006

Google Scholar adds related results

Exploring the scholarly neighborhood@Google blog

For every Google Scholar search result, we try to automatically determine which articles in our repository are most closely related to it. You can see a list of these articles by clicking the "Related Articles" link that appears next to each result. The list of related articles is ranked primarily by how similar these articles are to the original result, but also takes into account the relevance of each paper.

Google Scholar

24 August 2006

a new coaching tool

HEADZONE helps NSWIS coaches get inside athletes' heads@Sport & Sponsorship

The NSWIS and HEADZONE have provided the NSWIS programs – such as sailing, rowing, sprint canoe, canoe slalom and winter sports – with HEADZONE products ‘RTC’ and ‘Headgear’ for testing in the elite coaching environment. This equipment enables athletes to receive immediate feedback and advice from their coaches while they train in their specific water (or snow) environments.

For further information on HEADZONE including product specifications, please go to www.headzone.com.au

For more information about the NSW Institute of Sport, visit www.nswis.com.au

17 August 2006

More research needed on hypoxic chambers

More research needed on hypoxic chambers@UK Sport

The paper concluded that whilst the issue of health risk was inconclusive, there was evidence of the performance enhancement from using such methods and that their use does violate the spirit of sport.

15 August 2006

NZ High Performance Strategy 2006-2012

SPARC Releases High Performance Strategy 2006-2012@SPARC

Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) released the findings and recommendations of its High Performance Strategy 2006-2012, a blueprint for its approach to investing in high performance sport in New Zealand in the coming years.

10 August 2006

UK's performance assessment

Sport England response to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment framework announced by the Audit Commission@Sport England

New sports indicators developed by Sport England, with the Audit Commission, are included in the new CPA framework for 2006.

The indicators are:

Participation – the percentage of adults participating in at least 30 minutes moderate intensity sports and active recreation (including recreational walking) on 3 or more days a week

Volunteering – percentage of adults volunteering in sport for at least one hour per week

Choice and opportunity – percentage of the population that are within 20 minutes travel time* of a range of different sports facilities, one of which has achieved a quality assured standard

03 August 2006

2012 UK talent search

Hunt launched for 2012 medallists@Yahoo UK

The 500,000 pound ($920,460) talent search dubbed 20-4-2012 is targeting 11-16 year-olds around Britain to see who might have the raw natural talent to reach the Olympic podium in six years.

Through youth clubs, schools and national sports bodies, the project leaders hope to sift through the hopefuls before finally picking 1,000 children to attend 100 talent camps.

23 May 2006

ASPIRE + Singapore Sports School

The ASPIRE family continues to grow@AMEInfo

ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, has announced the creation of a formal partnership with the Singapore Sports School to 'explore the possibility of collaborating in the fields of Academic Studies, Sports and Sports Science to achieve mutually beneficial objectives.'

11 May 2006

compression garments for rapid recovery

Tights tested for rapid recovery@Massey news

Sport scientists are testing the effects of compression garments on blood flow and recovery time among top rugby players.

Get Active Queensland Schools Program

ELITE ATHLETES INSPIRE SCHOOL KIDS TO GET ACTIVE@Queensland Goverment

Throwing, catching, jumping and running will be the highlight of the day for hundreds of students across the eastern and bayside suburbs of Brisbane this month as they get the chance to share their playgrounds with elite athletes from the Queensland Academy of Sport.

19 April 2006

New Zealand performance analysis

SPARC to analyse New Zealand’s Games performance@SPARC

With last night’s close of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, SPARC (Sport & Recreation New Zealand) today announced that it will begin its usual post-Games debrief process to analyse the performance of teams and individuals prior to and during the games, factors that assisted or detracted from those performances, and what can be improved upon for future competition.

07 April 2006

IOC's postgraduate research grant

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAMME@IOC

The IOC Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) has created an annual programme of grants intended for young researchers engaged in scholarly research on the Olympic Movement, its history and ideals, and the impact of the Olympic Games on the various aspects of contemporary society and culture.

02 April 2006

Singapore Sports Participation Survey

MORE SINGAPOREANS PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS@SSC

In 2005, 48% ( increased 10% from 2001) of Singaporeans participate in some form of sports / exercise at least once a week with more than half (25%) of doing so at least 3 times per week. Singaporeans are also engaging in a wider variety for sports such as gym workout, in-line skating and beach volleyball.

The survey also revealed an increase of 10% female participation in sports from 32% in 2001 to 42% in 2005.

Overall, the top three most popular sports in Singapore are jogging, swimming and walking.

Yoga and rhythmic exercise is popular amongst females while males prefer soccer/football and fishing.

29 March 2006

USOC is eyeing a possible bid for the 2016 Olympic Games?

USOC’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VISION@sportbusiness

The US Olympic Committee has moved to boost its attempts to bid for future Olympic Games by appointing IOC member Bob Ctvrtlik as its new international vice president.

17 March 2006

doping inquiry into Australian weightlifting

Doping probe after items found@news.com.au

THE Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra has ordered a doping investigation after discovering "material" in its visitors' accommodation that it suspects is related to performance-enhancing drugs.

11 March 2006

Singapore's funding system

Singapore Sports Council's New National Sports Association Funding Model@SSC

Sports Council introduces outcome-based funding for NSAs @channel news asia

SINGAPORE : National Sports Associations (NSAs) will now get their funding based on what they can do rather than on what they have achieved.

Singapore launches new career scheme for elite athletes

S'pore Sports Council launches new career scheme for elite athletes @channel news asia

Programme for Elite Athlete's Career (PEAC): top athletes are placed in participating companies where they enjoy a flexible work environment that allows them to continue their elite sports training and participation in competitions.

06 March 2006

sleep position gives personality clue

sleep position gives personality clue@BBC

If you want an insight into somebody's true personality, then try to catch a glimpse of the way they sleep.

20 February 2006

52-year-old US professor in Turin 2006 Winter Olympics

Luge and the Lab@the scientist

As director of the Human Performance Lab at Boise State University and the author of nine fitness and wellness books, kinesiologist Werner Hoeger understands body movement. This month in Torino, Italy, the 52-year-old professor will put his theories to the test: He’ll be competing in luge at the 2006 Olympic Games.?

15 February 2006

UK Sport funding strategy

UK Sport releases 2012 Funding submission@UK sport

UK Sport has today released its submission to the Government on options for increased funding for elite athletes in the run up to London 2012. The submission is based on the agency’s ‘no compromise’ approach to delivering performance success.

01 February 2006

Gene Doping and Olympic Sport

Gene Doping and Olympic Sport@SIRC

Education is vital. Athletes and the people athletes rely on for advice need to understand the complexities and uncertainties around gene transfer—not least, our enormous ignorance about the risks of gene transfer in humans, risks that the X-SCID experiment demonstrates can be unexpected and grave.

Research is also crucial. We need to devise strategies to deter and detect gene doping. We also must refine our understanding of the ethics of genetic enhancement. Does gene-doping challenge our conception of natural talents? In what ways is it similar to or different from using performance-enhancing drugs?

30 January 2006

a sleep mat for monitoring sleep quality

Want to win? Sleep on it@ASC

The sleep mat is a small piece of foam covered in plastic material that is placed under the athlete’s bed sheet. Within it are approximately 50 sensors that are activated when they are pushed on by body movement. When the sleeper moves position, the sensors detect the movement and send the information to a computer for analysis.

Australia's Beijing Athlete Program

The business of winning@ASC

The Beijing Athlete Program is aimed at attaining sustained high performance success in targeted sports — those that offer the best potential to win medals — leading into the Beijing Olympics, Paralympics and beyond.

Initially 21 sports were identified for inclusion in the Beijing Athlete Program:

* Group 1 (significant ASC investment) — rowing, swimming, hockey, cycling, athletics, basketball, sailing, water polo, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics and canoeing
* Group 2 (multi-medal or potential multi-medal) — diving, archery, shooting, triathlon and skiing
* Group 3 (increased potential through Asian linkage) — judo, table tennis, badminton and taekwondo.

Another three sports — baseball, softball and equestrian — have since been added on the basis of their medal potential.

10 January 2006

Yoga for low back pain

Yoga May Be More Effective Than Self-Care for Chronic Back Pain@medscape

Yoga was more effective than a self-care book for improving function and reducing chronic low back pain, and the benefits persisted for at least several months