Wednesday 9 April 2014 14:43, UK
Brian Cookson, the president of the International Cycling Union, has raised the possibility of placing cameras on bikes to enhance the race experience for TV viewers.
Cookson is exploring ways to attract new audiences to cycling and believes technological innovations in the coverage of events is key.
Sports such as rugby and cricket already use on-field cameras, while both Formula 1 cars and MotoGP bikes have carried cameras on board for years.
Speaking at the Sport Accord Convention in Turkey, Cookson said cycling must follow suit.
He said: “One of the biggest challenges – not just for cycling, but for many sports – is the need to evolve while staying true to the essence of your sport. How do you progress and embrace innovation in order to make the spectator and viewer feel even more engaged?
“We will look at technology, such as cameras on bikes and in team cars, to see how they can be used to enhance the viewer experience.
“Imagine being able to share the view of Chris Froome as he rose up Mont Ventoux or came up the Champs-Elysees to win last summer’s Tour de France. And why stop at cameras? What about having microphones on bikes or sharing rider data on screen?”
I do believe it is right to discuss how we can be creative in looking at both the summer and winter sports programmes.
Cookson also expanded on his idea to move track cycling from the summer Olympics to the winter Olympics, which the 62-year-old Briton first suggested in March.
The track cycling season takes place over the winter and Cookson believes switching Olympics would give the sport more exposure and also allow for more events.
He told the convention: “I do believe it is right to discuss how we can be creative in looking at both the summer and winter sports programmes.
“For me this should include whether there is merit in considering sports that traditionally take place in the winter months being a part of the Winter Games.
“And if this leads to more disciplines and new sports in the Games, more people watching and engaged, then that could be a very good solution to several different challenges.”
