The event, which saw fine wins by such names as Alan
Wells, Sebastian Coe, Mark Holton and David Moorcroft also
marked the British men's highest ever achievement in the
event - third place.
A specially designed information system based on an ME29
handled all processing and distribution of results, with a
network of video terminals providing information to referees
and judges as well as journalists, television and radio
commentators.
Evaluation and distribution of results was handled
automatically by the ICL system - both within the stadium
and at a hotel in the centre of Zagreb.
Results were also transmitted direct to the television
network
The ME29 is owned by ICL's Yugoslavian agent MLADOST,
which also sponsored the British team.
MLADOST is a leading Croatian enterprise with a major
printing business, and a chain of stationery shops and also
supplies office equipment and computers.
Writing, development and testing of the program was the
responsibility of MLADOST.
Despite temperatures of 95F in the building where the
ME29 was installed it performed perfectly.
So impressed with the reliability and performance of the
equipment were the games secretariat that they are
recommending through the European Athletics Board that
MLADOST approach the organisers of the next European
Athletics final - to be held in Athens - to use the same
system.
A member of the MLADOST development team
working at a terminal in the stadium
This is the first ME29 to be seen in Yugoslavia. Its
success at the games is likely to provide a springboard for
further sales in that country.
Already RTZ, a major Yugoslav radio and television
broadcasting company; is about to take delivery of three
ME29s.
The RTZ machines will be the first products of a new
venture between ICL and TRS-MLADOST, a Yugoslavian
electronics organisation.
The venture involves the partial dismantling of completed
ME29s by Eastern European Branch in the UK before shipment
to Yugoslavia. Here the equipment is re-assembled by
TRS-MLADOST for installation with Yugoslavian end-users.
This procedure is to comply with Yugoslavian regulations
and also allows Yugoslav engineers to build up detailed `hands-on'
experience of ME29.
Without this type of joint venture between ICL and
Yugoslavia there would be virtually no prospect of sales for
ICL in the country
