Apart from aiding athletic performance, technology is increasingly used to manage the logistics of the games, to assist judges, and to bring coverage instantaneously via television and the Internet to virtually every corner of the world.  On top of all this, with the threat of terrorism looming over Salt Lake City, technology is playing a major role in providing security for competitors and spectators.

One had only to watch the opening ceremonies and watch the parading athletes as they videotaped and took digital photos of each other or talked on cell phones in the midst of the proceedings to be reminded how thoroughly technology has permeated this year's Winter Olympics.  The links below will lead you to a wealth of further information.  And for related information and links, see Teich's Tidbits of the Week on Technology and the [Summer] Olympics (Sept. 18, 2000) and Snowmaking Technology (Nov. 26, 2001).

Links:
= highly recommended

Note:  Many of these are very current (posted within the last few days).  This is an asset for visitors who see this page in February 2002.  Those who come to it later, however, might find some of the links dead. Sorry.

"Team Tech at the Winter Olympics," by Bambi Francisco, CBS Market Watch (February 7, 2002).  Focuses mainly on the use of computers and the Internet at the Olympics.

"Yahoo Rolls Out Mobile Internet Cafes for Winter Olympics, by Gretchen Hyman, on Silicon Valley Internet.com (February 7, 2002).

"Olympics Sport High Tech Backbone," by Jim Strothman, Industrial Computing Online (February 8, 2002). How many two-way radios are being used at the games? Answer: 7,000.  How many workstations and laptops? 4,500.  Miles of fiber optic cable?  32,000.  How much is all this IT costing? $300 million!

"Cybersport Out in the Cold," by Jane Wakefield, BBC News (February 9, 2002).  Brief article about Olympic web sites (but with few links).

"The Power Behind the Olympics," by Jane Wakefield, BBC News (February 8, 2002). Computers and other technologies used by the organizers rather than the competitors.  Also, an interesting little table of facts about the use of technology in past games.

"Skiing Makes Sharp Turns in Technology," by Bill Pennington, The New York Times (February 10, 2002). Lengthy, interesting article.  Includes an interactive multimedia sidebar on high-tech ski equipment.

Nike's Swift Skin--a full-body aerodynamic suit for speedskating being used by the American, Australian, and Dutch teams:

• Nike's Press Release--"Nike Designs Exclusive, Highly Aerodynamic 'Swift Skin' Helping Make the World's Top Speedskaters Go Even Faster" 
• "Well-Suited for Victory: Technology Raises the Olympics' Bar," by Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post (February 3, 2002).
• Untitled Article on Swift Skin, ZZZ Online, Number 114 (January 27, 2002). A different perspective.

Articles on luge, a dangerous and increasingly high-tech sport:

• USA Luge's high tech indoor training facility.
• Luge Training, on Hyper Tek (1998, but still interesting).
• "Digital Gear Gives Luge the Edge," BBC News (February 4, 2002).
• "Luge:  How do engineering and technology play a role in the Olympics?" site to accompany show #901 of "Newton's Apple" (mainly for kids and teachers, but others will also find it interesting).