Splitting the Second

Funny and sometimes shocking stories behind the scenes of major sports events are revealed for the first time in this unusual book. Alex Cheng, president of a company in California that was the North American distributor for Omega Sports Timing, shares his observations in a candid and casual style.



His company, Seagull, Inc., was involved in timing systems and scoreboards for the Olympics in Montreal and Lake Placid, Pan Am Games in Mexico City, Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, the Canada Games and many events in skiing, swimming, track and field, car racing, horse racing, rodeos, boat racing, skateboard races, firemen's musters and other sports.



This book is sheer entertainment for anyone interested in a variety of sports from a new perspective or how a small company coped with a somewhat frenetic business. At the same time, you will learn fascinating sports facts that will impress your friends. For example:



Did you know runners are timed to 1/100 of a second based on the first part of the torso crossing the line? How is this decided with absolute accuracy?

Did you know the Montreal Olympics main stadium faced a grid lock of construction cranes and was only half finished when the Games began? And this is common with many Olympics!

Did you know the beeping count-down clock next to skiers about to start their race has nothing to do with their actual start time?

Have you wondered what it was like in the hockey stadium on the night of the "Miracle on Ice" victory in Lake Placid?

Do you know why Olympic style sailboat racing is amazingly similar to barrel racing in rodeos? (You won't find this anywhere else!)