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■英國採用設計戰機和潛艇的精密科技，改良冰鞋，協助該國選手在冬奧爭金。圖為中國選手正在溫哥華冬奧進行速滑比賽。資料圖片
戰機和潛艇與冬季奧運會亦可扯上關係，多國選手都利用最新科技，協助他們在比賽取得重要的優勢。
並非速滑強國的英國，利用設計戰機和潛艇的精密軟件，加強國家隊在溫哥華冬奧速度滑冰比賽的表現。在歐洲錦標賽中，英國選手穿上經改良設計的托架，在短道速滑比賽中贏得5面獎牌。
英國短道速滑全球計劃的表現總監霍爾瑟普爾表示：「冰鞋在平衡上每一個微細的改變，對表現都會有重大影響。」他又說：「舊的鋁製托架彎曲變形是真正的問題，就算氣壓改變都會影響冰鞋的平衡度。由於隊伍要乘飛機到賽場，而且裝置要放在貨艙，所以引起多個問題。」
正在英國隊與國防巨擘BAE系統公司合作之際，其他隊伍為爭取百分之一秒的優勢，都重新設計競賽裝備。
加拿大隊在服裝上下工夫，不同部位用不同物料，大腿內側用上回力物料，運動員移動時不會產生摩擦力，亦能加快腿部移動速度。
然而，多倫多的加拿大體育中心科學家韋爾斯表示，越高科技，風險便越高。他說：「新科技可讓選手在落山滑雪和其他賽事上更快，挑戰人類極限是好事，但因選手都在挑戰極限，故他們都是極速『飛下山』，稍有半點差池都非常危險。」 ■綜合外電消息/羅國偉 資深翻譯員
How Fighter Jets Inspire Olympic Gold Dreams
Fighter jets and submarines and are playing their parts in the quest for Winter Olympics gold as competitors search for that crucial, extra edge.
Great Britain, not known for its prowess as a speedskating powerhouse, has turned to sophisticated computer software, normally used to design jets and submarines, to strengthen skates in Vancouver. Redesigned brackets were used at the European championships where the short track speed skating team won 5 medals.
"Even minute changes to the alignment of the skates can have a huge impact in terms of performance," said Stuart Horsepool, Performance Director for the Great Britain short track speed skating world class programme. "A real problem for us was the tendency of the old aluminium brackets to bend. Even changes in atmospheric pressure were affecting the alignment of the skates. This caused a number of issues for the team when we travelled by aircraft to competitions and needed to put equipment in the hold."
While the British team have been working with defence giants BAE Systems, other teams are also trying to shave off hundredths of seconds by redesigning racing gear.
The Canadian team uses different fabric in different places, including energy-returning patches on the inside of the thighs to speed up leg movements rather than cause friction.
However, Greg Wells, a scientist with the Canadian Sport Centre in Toronto, said that improving technology can also mean increased risks.
"The new technologies are allowing the athletes to go faster in sports like downhill skiing and in sliding sports. It is a really great thing because it allows athletes to push the limits of human performance," he said. "But because these are things that are at the extreme limits of human performance, in general you are flying down a mountain of ice at very high speeds, the margin for error is very very small."
■AFP
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