Lasermet Ensures Fair Play with Laser Power Meter at London 2012 Olympics
At the London 2012 Olympic Games, fairness, safety, and precision were essential—especially in sports involving new technology. The Modern Pentathlon, traditionally involving shooting with pellet pistols, transitioned to using laser pistols in 2010. To ensure these laser-based events were safe and equitable for all athletes, Lasermet’s Laser Power Meter was deployed to test the output of each pistol before the competition began.
Steve Candy, the Combined Event Manager for LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games), described how Lasermet played a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the sport.
A New Era in Modern Pentathlon
Modern Pentathlon is a demanding five-discipline sport that includes running, horse-riding, swimming, fencing, and shooting. As of 2010, the sport adopted laser pistols for the shooting element, replacing traditional pellet-firing pistols. This change was made to make the sport more accessible, especially in countries with strict firearm regulations or where younger participants were previously unable to compete due to safety laws.
Despite the advantages, the introduction of laser pistols brought concerns over fairness and the consistency of laser output, particularly since athletes and manufacturers used different models.
Ensuring Fair Competition
By 2011, laser pistols were being used in major competitions like the World Cup and World Championships. However, the technology had not yet been uniformly regulated or extensively tested in competitive environments. There were concerns about the potential for abuse—such as tweaking laser settings to increase range or power—and about the overall safety of the equipment.
Steve Candy and the team wanted to eliminate any variables that might affect competition fairness at the London 2012 Olympics. This included:
- Ensuring no modifications had been made to give athletes an unfair advantage.
- Checking the length and power of the laser shot.
- Verifying compliance with agreed specifications
Using Lasermet’s Laser Power Meter
To address these challenges, Lasermet’s Laser Power Meter was used to test and verify the laser output of the pistols before the Games. This device ensured that every athlete was competing under the same conditions.
“I wanted to make sure the athletes had a level playing field and that nobody had tweaked the lasers to make them more powerful or fire a longer shot,” said Candy.
“What I particularly wanted to test was the length of the shot and the power. There were other aspects I would have liked to test, like the trigger delay mechanism and the waveform of the beam, but these were less critical.”
A Safe, Fair and Exciting Competition
Thanks to the precautions taken and the equipment provided by Lasermet, the laser shooting event ran smoothly. Athletes competed fairly, and the sport was showcased on the world’s biggest stage without incident. The British team continued their Olympic success, with Samantha Murray winning the silver medal.
The move to laser-based shooting was ultimately a success, helping to modernise the sport while enhancing safety and global accessibility.
Conclusion
Lasermet’s Laser Power Meter played a key role in safeguarding fairness and precision during the London 2012 Olympics. By verifying the output of every laser pistol, Lasermet helped ensure a level playing field and contributed to the successful adoption of laser technology in the Modern Pentathlon. This case underscores Lasermet’s commitment to laser safety, compliance, and integrity—whether in research labs, medical environments, or on the Olympic stage.
