阅读理解

　　It’s hard to believe how times have changed since the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, on 6th April 1896．One hundred years ago, there was very little reliance(dependence)on modern technology．There were no landing mats(海绵垫), no stopwatches and no photo finishes．In fact, cameras and stopwatches were not used until the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA．

　　Today technology has completely revolutionized(changed)sports．Take sports equipment(装备)for example．Starting blocks are now equipped with electronic pressure sensors, which, together with digital cameras, provide exactly correct race time and also help to catch runners who“jump the gun”．As athletes cross the finishing line, special digital cameras can also easily decide the winner．The days of“dead heats”are gone．

　　Athletes have also benefited(受益)from technological developments．Body-hugging suits, which reduce(减少)wind drag, can help cut up to one-tenth of a second from runners’ race times．Top athletes are even provided with tailor-made sports shoes．These shoes are made to fit the athlete exactly－and there are even air compartments in the shoes that can be filled to meet each runner’s individual needs．

　　Technology has also changed the way that many sports are performed．Take one example－the pole vault(撑杆跳)．The inclusion of a landing mat obviously made a big difference to the vaulting style(方式)as athletes no longer needed to worry about hurting themselves as they fell．Without these worries, athletes could obviously jump higher．These days, pole vaulters do not even need to worry about the crossbar as the uprights are now fitted with light-emitting diodes(LEDs)that measure(测量)how high the athlete vaulted．Even it has been to the advantage of swimmers．New pools have been designed to reduce wave interference and sports scientists have even developed a new style of swimming that increases buoyancy and reduces drag in the water．

　　The increasing importance of these technological developments has led many sportsmen to suggest that the“Olympic spirit”is being lost in a rush to break records and win medals．Many developing countries say that technology has become too important in sport and that athletes from developing countries that cannot afford such technology are disadvantaged．There are no easy answers but one thing is sure－we cannot turn back times．Technology cannot go backwards．

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