The Wimbledon tennis tournament, which started yesterday, has developed strong traditions since it was first staged in 1877.

While strawberries and cream and bad weather dominate the headlines, behind the scenes a massive amount of technology helps to make sure the championships are a smash hit.

From speed of serve radar guns to the official web site, the entire system, which has been built and managed by IBM in the past 13 years, typifies how advanced technology has infiltrated international sport.

Jeff Lucas, information technology director for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which runs the championship, said:

"Technology plays a vital role in supporting the objectives of the club.

"Many members of our audience say their TV viewing has increased as a direct result of interest generated through following the championships on the official web site."

The site includes news about players and the progress of the championships, interviews and real-time information, including point-by-point scores from matches in pro-gress, live video from many courts and weather forecasts.

It contains links to internet radio stations, text messaging (SMS) and mobile web (WAP)

services, a virtual tour of the club and archive video.

IBM's Wimbledon project director Mark McMurrugh said: "Last year, more than three million users visited the official web site, making it one of the largest live web events IBM has ever managed and hosted.

"This year, the project is wider in scope than ever before."

Data-entry teams, using laptops at the courtside, record every service, point and shot and this information is fed live to a central database used by the web site, TV and radio broadcasters in about 160 countries and the Wimbledon information services.

Radar guns on the six show courts relay service speed data back to the main system.

Another system, IBM's NetCam, captures live video from many courts, converts the pictures to a viewable format, creates thumbnail images and sends them to the web servers.

The SlamCam uses robotically-controlled, live video cameras placed around the courts, which can be physically aimed by web site visitors around the world from their own computers.

Online visitors choose the camera viewpoint, then zoom and point to snap the pictures they want to see.

Each camera is powered by a separate computer at courtside.

It is not only the public which benefits. An information system for commentators puts live scores, statistics, draw details, schedule and match records at their fingertips and helps them to be informed as possible.

A prompt system can send messages from an IBM tennis consultant to the commentators'

screens when a particular point of interest occurs, for example if a player serves his or her 100th ace or makes the fastest serve of the championships.

A similar multimedia intranet system at the club provides players, media, spectators and officials around the grounds with scores, statistics, biographies and details of the draw and order of play.

Fans can use statistics kiosks to access the information and print-off statistical reports and biographies.

The same data is used to provide leading players such as Serena Williams Wimbledon and Tim Henman with a statistical analysis and a video of each match on the two main courts.

A summary report from other courts is delivered to singles match winners.

The system is supported by 150 staff, who also oversee the catering system, the media centre and the championships' e-business operations, including ticket and merchandising purchases from the online shop.

Unfortunately, the system can't change the weather but, whether the sun is shining or not, fans, players and officials will have more than enough information to keep them busy.

www.wimbledon.org
www.ibm.com