About.com Rating

An Overview

High-Tech Olympics provides a fascinating introduction to the impact that advances in technology have had on the Olympic Games. Both sports and technology fans will be intrigued by how much changes in technology have affected sports training and equipment and most importantly, world records and other scores.

The Format and Contents

The book is divided into 2-page chapters, each a double-page spread, with paragraphs of text and one or more color photographs.

Just looking at the chapter titles will give you an idea of what aspects of the Olympic Games and technology are featured: Olympic Dreams, On the Track, Jumping and Throwing, Training to the Top, In the Pool, On the Water, On Your Bike, Seconds and Milliseconds, Winter Olympic Technology, High-tech Paralympics, Catching the Cheaters and The Future.
For example, the On the Track chapter covers shoe technology, starting blocks, running suits and South Paralympic title winner Oscar Pistorius, who runs on artificial legs that are constructed of wood and carbon fiber. (Note: After this book was published, South Africa announced that Pistorius would be competing for his country in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London). In addition to a photograph of Pistorius competing, the double-page spread includes a photograph of 400-meter gold medal winner Cathy Freeman at the Sydney Olympics wearing a running bodysuit that includes a tight-fitting hood. Besides the main paragraphs, additional information is provided in colorful text boxes.

The Training for the Top chapter discusses how science and technology affect training for the Olympics. Diet, sleep and training regimen are all guided by sports science. Videos and electronic monitors are two of the ways athletes, their trainers and their doctors can monitor their training and performance. In addition to the general chapter information, there are two colorful text boxes, one about an athlete's diet and the other explaining the full page photograph of an athlete on a treadmill being monitored with electronic equipment by her doctor. This combination of photographs, general text about the subject of the chapter and colorful text boxes containing additional information is followed throughout the book's 12 chapters.

At the end of the book, just before the index, are several additional sections that are helpful. Olympic Records - Now and Then is a table that illustrates the impact that advances in technology have had in shattering previous Olympic records. The table lists seven events and compares the oldest Olympic record for men and for women with the current Olympics record and lists the changes in technology that have impacted each record. The events covered are the 100 Meters, Marathon, High Jump, Pole Vault, Javelin, Track Cycling (individual pursuit) and Swimming 100-meter freestyle.

For example, in the women's 100 meters race, the oldest Olympic record of 12.2 seconds was set by Elizabeth Robinson, USA, in 1928, and the current Olympic record of 10.62 seconds was set by Florence Griffith-Joyner, USA, in 1988. What made the difference? According to the author, it was "Better training and diet. Changes in track and running shoes."

A one-page glossary is provided, and a note at the beginning of the book lets readers know that in the glossary at the end of the book, they can find the definitions of all the words shown in bold type throughout the book. On the Find Out More page, information is provided about four related recent nonfiction books and five Web sites.

Author Nick Hunter

Nick Hunter has written quite a few nonfiction books for Capstone on subjects of interest to kids in middle school and upper elementary school. These include: Steve Jobs (Titans of Business), Cyber Bullying (Hot Topics), Internet Safety (Hot Topics), Money in Sports (Ethics of Sports), The World of Olympics (The Olympics) and Fighting Fires (Read Me!: Heroic Jobs).

My Recommendation

High-Tech Olympics will interest both readers interested in sports competition and readers interested in technology. While the book provides a brief overview rather than an in depth look at the impact technology has had on the Olympic Games, it provides a fascinating introduction to the subject. I recommend the book for ages 8 to adult. (Heinemann Library, an imprint of Capstone Global Library, 2012. ISBN: 9781410941275)

Other About.com Resources Related to the Olympic Games

For more good children's books about the Olympics, see my annotated list of recommended children's books about the Olympics. For background information, see these articles from other About.com Guides: 101 on the Ancient Olympic Games and History of the Olympics: Creating the Modern Olympic Games. For tips on using the Olympics for learning and play, see Summer Olympics for Kids.