Skaters tested mobile laboratory of the ROC

– How did the idea of creating such a laboratory on wheels appear?

– In September 2012 when implementing a special project “Hypoxia” our group of specialists was at the training camp in Finland with the experimental ski team of the Russian Olympic Committee, and in the first few days we encountered several problems. In particular, the inability to carry out some measurements “in the  field”. Then the idea was born to create a specialized mobile laboratory that would be multi-functional and depending on the tasks would be transformed either into the test center, or medical, or biochemical laboratory. With this initiative, we appealed to the Scientific and methodological support management of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and to the ROC governing body represented by the Managing Director Vladimir Sengleev. Our idea received support and its implementation began. Last fall 10 million rubles were collected through a joint charity event of the ROC, Visa and “Aeroflot”. Part of this money was invested in the creation of two mobile auto labs.

– It’s no secret that similar mobile technical and medical stations exist in Russia. What is the speciality of this lab?

– First of all it is quite a low-budget project and its highlight is versatility. Imagine in one small minibus the functions of scientific specialist,  sports doctor,  biochemist, coaches and assistants coaches are combined. It turns out that a team has a full complex support “in the field”. We give the coach the information upon which he can make adjustments of the training plan — either to increase or to decrease the load of athletes. This is a great help in the training process somewhere in the mountains where there is no opportunity to conduct comprehensive surveys – for example, in Inzell, where the final gathering of the Russian speed skating team before the Olympic games takes place. There we used the laboratory to monitor middle altitude training, examined the ability of each athlete to sustain different heights and thus planned training process at the final stage of preparation.

– It is less than two weeks before the Olympic Games in Sochi. Can we say that, at this stage, the project has been implemented?

– It has been implemented in terms of the concept of creation. Our experts, who went to a get-together in Inzell were uniquely satisfied. Everything is ergonomical and convenient and it’s possible to transport a large amount of goods. In addition the laboratory can be transformed into a different configuration, depending on the task. It is indeed correctly and well designed. At the same time it has a rather low budget, and that allows to produce such machines within a short time. In addition, the laboratory can be used in any sports, because it is universal and not dedicated to something specific. From this point of view, the project is very successful.

Also it is demanded by the national teams. Since last year the speed skaters have been implementing a special project of the ROC “Hypoxia” into their training, and the results are already there. The athletes participating in the project, returned from the last World Cup with medals. There is also an application for use of our laboratory received from the Russian Biathlon Union and several summer sports federations expressed their interest.

– Will the laboratory be sent to the Olympic Games in Sochi?

– The laboratory is accredited to the Games and , if necessary, it can be used at any time, and we will continue the system work after the Olympic Games. Modern sports  is not only huge athletes’ efforts, it is also modern support techniques without which it is simply impossible to achieve victories. The Russian Olympic Committee, by the way, is also engaged in their development. The innovation center construction is currently in its full swing within the walls of the ROC. Projects and methods for our athletes will be developed in this center in the future.