CISM 1998 CISM 1998
This information sheet describes how the electronic punching system (SPORT ident or briefly SI) works and what services you can expect from us, the CISM Result Service team.
Prior to each event you will be handed out an electronic punching card (SI Card). This is a computer chip molded into a small plastic carrier which can be strapped to a finger with the elastic ribbon provided. At each checkpoint, when you hold the SI Card into the opening of a small box (SI Box), both the time of punching and the checkpoint number will be stored on this chip.
Every SI Card has its unique serial number which is marked on the outside as well as stored on the chip. This serial number does not correspond with your start bib number. It will identify the data you collect during your race when transferred to the computer system.
At the start : The start lists will contain both bib number and chip number. It is of utmost importance to use the SI Card you have been assigned. Checks will be made at the pre-start. At the pre-start you will be required to initialize your SI Card and to check that the initialization was successful. This means holding your SI Card first into an SI Box labelled "clear" and then into an SI Box labelled "check". We will supervise this process. You will not have to hold your SI Card into a separate SI Box at the start.
At the checkpoints : The SI Boxes at the checkpoints are labelled with the respective checkpoint number. A red light emits short flashes at regular intervals. When you hold your SI Card into the SI Box two green lights will start flashing at a faster rate and you will hear a buzzer. This means that the punching process is complete, ie. that the current time and the checkpoint number are now stored on the chip inside the SI Card.
At the finish : On the finish line we will clock your time with a hign precision chronometer. You will not have to hold your SI Card into an SI Box on the finish line. After the finish line you will have to proceed in a single file to the read- out station where you hold your SI Card into a special SI Box which is connected to a computer. The punching data, ie. times and numbers, are transferred to the computer system. It is important for you to know that the order in which your SI Cards are read out at the finish determines the assignment of the previously clocked finish times. Please help our finish judge to sort out any problems concerning who crossed the finish line first. It is the finish judge, however, who will have the last word if a dispute arises.
Important : Should you be obliged to give up your race or if you do not start at all, you must immediately turn in your SI Card to the finish judge.
Failure of equipment : As with any electronic system, failures can happen. If the lights do not flash and the buzzer does not beep, or if both the lights and the buzzer are turned on continuously, you should assume that the SI Box is out of order. Then and only then will you have to punch manually on a corner of your map, using the conventional punch which is installed at each checkpoint, together with the SI Box. Manual punches will only be accepted if the corresponding SI Box is confirmed by others to have been out of order.
Wrong control or control sequence : If you mistakenly punch at a checkpoint where you should not have, just go ahead and punch the at the correct checkpoint. (Example : Your next checkpoint is 65, but you mistakenly punch at checkpoint 66. In this case, just go ahead, find checkpoint 65, punch there, and continue your race.) If you punch at a checkpoint out of order, you can correct the error by punching first at the one which you left out, and then again at the checkpoint where you punched earlier. (Example : Your next checkpoints are 65-66-67, in this order, but you mistakenly punch at checkpoint 66 first. In this case, return, find checkpoint 65, punch there, go to checkpoint 66 again, punch there a second time, and continue your race with checkpoint 67.)
Availability of results : Your complete timing data (including split times) will be available to the speaker and the press in a matter of a few seconds after your SI Card has been read out. The current standings at the finish as well as at certain intermediate checkpoints will be displayed to the public in the finish area on a large panel which is maintained manually. In the evening we will hand you out the complete results (including split times). You also have the possibility to analyse your performance more thoroughly by comparing the split times graphically, at publicly accessible workstations. In the evening, the results will be published on the Internet.
Tutorials : There will be tutorials about the use of SPORT ident on Oct, 6th: at the model event from 10:00 until 12:00 and at the event centre from 20:00 until 22:00.
© Copyright 1998, SOLV. Mail to webmaster@solv.ch.