Peking University, Nov. 27, 2010: The 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou has just come to an end. The sports feast has attracted attention from all over Asia since the very beginning, and students of Peking University (PKU) are no exception. Along with its student athletes who entered the Asian Games, PKU also sent out a broadcasting and transmission team of more than 30 members to Guangzhou and provided the audience with a brand new experience of visual effect using state-of-the-art 3D technology.
Student Athletes: Seizing the Opportunity
PKU student athletes are just studying like others; but when significant sport events come along, they will exert themselves to fight for the honor and sportsmanship. The Asian Games, especially this time at home, is an opportunity for them to realize their dreams and reach beyond their own.
How did they feel before the Games?
Zhao Xue from the School of Government was a professional chess player before entering PKU. This young lady with two identities has been very much cared by the teachers and other students: “Sometimes I have to delay homework and tests in order to go all out for the competition. But my teachers have been very considerate and my fellow students will help me out with classes that I drop when they have time.”
It’s the second time that Zhao Xue has participated in the Asian Games. She has a clear goal of winning a gold medal since last time in Doha she was the runner-up. “A silver medal is the bottom line for me. For me, it is a shame not having won the gold yet as a player of the national team. And the coming team event is the last chance for me in the Asian Games, so I will do my best to take advantage of this last chance.”
Chang Pengben from the same school told the reporter when he was preparing for the competition heart and soul at the site, “Now is the adjustment period prior to the competition so the intensity of the preparation has been limited. Most of the time I just do some relaxing and attitude adjustment so that I can pull out a good performance.”He was set to go all out to have a good result in his first Asian Games, though he was not choosing track and field as his future career, according to Chang.
Team for 3D Broadcasting: Realizing High-tech
This Asian Games has realized a historic breakthrough: all households in Guangzhou city with a 3D digital TV set are able to enjoy high-definition 3D stereo broadcast. A trial, though, it is the first time that the world has realized transmitting high-definition 3D TV signals. It is the team of 3D broadcasting from PKU that has accomplished this historic mission.
The team leader, Prof. Qiu Zhanghong from School of Arts, introduced the 3D technology: “The camera for shooting 3D TV program has two lenses. During the relaying, each frame should be matched accurately. For this reason, the 3D broadcasting technology is so hard to apply in the long history of Asian Games broadcasting that limitation has already been met.” Zhao Yongtao, a team member from the school, pointed out several technological difficulties, “The 3D technology is still in a semi-secret stage with little popularity, so no standards or even rules have been set up for such technologies as 3D shooting, three-dimensional silhouette, independent coding, image transmission and signal source transmission. We have to grope about all on our own.”
This is more than a volunteer team; it’s based on a joint research project by the School of Arts and School of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). Everyone is working in areas they have never touched: making contributions to “high-tech Asian Games.” Zhao Yongtao told the reporter while he was broadcasting in Guangzhou,” 3D broadcasting has a huge difference from traditional TV programs in terms of either planning or operation. With more technical problems involved, all of us are working pretty hard. Improvement is needed before this immature technology of 3D broadcasting becomes more widely applied.”
PKU Audience: Sports for All
Not able to go to Guangzhou in person, students on campus have kept an eye on the Asian Games in their own ways as well as the development of sports in China.
“Although in terms of competitive sports, China is unrivaled in Asia, best indicated by the number of gold medals far in the lead, much is left to be desired in aspects such as public fitness programs and the popularity of lifelong sports,” Tian Yuan from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature said. “It's important for sure to host a successful Asian Games but what's more is to boost the national physical fitness and carry out the idea of everyone doing exercise.”For her, the outcome is not everything about sports; The process is more crucial.
“On the one hand, it’s inspiring to see China firmly at the top in the number of gold medals; on the other hand, we should realize that we are quite limited in some team events.” Lei Xincheng from EECS commented. He was more focused on the influence the Asian Games has on sports among all people. “We are promoting the idea of ‘everyone doing exercise’ and ‘sunshine sports.’ Unless the nationwide physical fitness program has been implemented, China cannot live up to the name of a sports giant. And that is where the significance of the Asian Games lies.”
Translated by: Chen Long
Edited by: Jacques
Source: PKU Youth
