Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits  Introduction The United States Olympic Committee is holding an "All-Star Invention Day" and wants you to participate! They are hoping that some of your inventions will help them bring the Olympics into the 21st Century. The goal is to research the history of past Track and Field events and equipment so that you get a sense of where the event has been, where it is going and how it can be improved for the future. Then, you should take all of that information and invent your very own piece of equipment that you think will give Olympic athletes the edge they need. Remember -- you can get as creative as you want! The most innovative ideas will be tested by athletes and if accepted will be used in the next Olympics. return to top  The Task Your goal is to modernize or reinvent a new piece of equipment for a Track and Field event and develop a presentation of your idea for the "All-Star Invention Day". The Committee will review your presentation with some of the top athletes in Track and Field to determine if your idea will truly revolutionize the sport. Your invention must be based on research that shows how the equipment for the Track and Field event has evolved over time and what you see as its future. We need you to be as creative as possible in your ideas. Return to top  The Process In order to develop your presentation, you must research at least one kind of Track and Field event and the equipment used in order to learn how it has changed since it was first invented. Step 1  Choose one of the following Track and Field events and research the history of the event and its equipment: running pole vault discus javelin shot put Step 2  Use the resources below to help you answer the following questions: when did the event first begin? how has the equipment evolved over time? how can you change the equipment to improve it for the future (think about ways to optimize the athlete's performance)? Step 3  Learn how to develop a simple PowerPoint presentation. Step 4  Develop a presentation that includes:  a brief history of the event and equipment your argument for why the equipment needs to change a description of your new piece of equipment including its features, materials, color, dimensions, weight, etc. a picture of what the equipment will look like an explanation of how the equipment will work a conclusion that summarizes your rationale for designing the equipment based on your research about its evolution and trends return to top Resources The following web sites are excellent sources of information about equipment used in Track and Field events: Running http://ww2.mcgill.ca/arch/stuff/studentp/jm/history.htm http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/running.html Pole Vault http://www.howstuffworks.com/pole-vault.htm http://www.iaaf.org/TheSport/sport/PV/intro.html Discus http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/pentathlon.html#discus http://www.canthrow.com/discus/index.shtml http://www.iaaf.org/TheSport/sport/DT/intro.html http://www.ktf.com.au/technical/discus.htm Javelin http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/pentathlon.html#javelin http://www.iaaf.org/TheSport/sport/JT/intro.html Shot Put http://www.canthrow.com/shotput/index.shtml http://www.iaaf.org/TheSport/sport/SP/intro.html Other helpful links http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/athletic/sports/track_field.htm http://www.edgate.com/school_athletics/parent/track_&_field/ http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/8682 return to top Evaluation Your presentation will be evaluated by a group of Olympic gold metal athletes to determine if your ideas will truly revolutionize the sport. If your idea is accepted, we will begin looking for companies who can manufacture your equipment in time for the next Olympics. Good Luck!    return to top  Conclusion You will have helped us improve the Track and Field sport through your creative ideas. In the process, you have discovered how equipment used in Track and Field events has changed and evolved over time. In addition, you have learned how to use the Internet for researching and how to develop a PowerPoint presentation.   Return to top    Credits Robyn Steinhause, Staff Developer at Media Workshop New York Janet Mannheimer Zydney, Staff Developer at Media Workshop New York  return to top