National Informatics Centre in National Games '94
# NIC sets new Record
Any major sporting event generates a lot of interest. In India, the Asian Games of 1982, the World Table Tennis Championships of 1987 followed by World Railway Games and the Second National Games of the same year were veritable bonanzas for the public. Old records were broken and new ones set.
Few however know of a unique participant which competed against itself to make and break its own records in all these games. The part that the National Informatics Centre played in the recently concluded National Games '94 in Bombay and Pune, brought NIC's contribution to Indian sports to a new zenith.
We present NIC's performance record in the National Games '94.
It started in 1982 with the 1Xth Asian Games held in New Delhi. For the first time in Asia, computer and communication services were provided for handling Sports Information Systems. An intra-city star-configured computer network connecting all stadia in Delhi was set up by NIC. Subsequently, the Computerized Results Information System was developed to support the World Table Tennis Championship held in Delhi in 1987 and the World Railway Games which followed immediately. NIC also had the privilege of extending its computer services to the Second National Games held in Kerala in the same year.
Considering NIC's rich experience in the field, the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) for the National Games '94, held in Maharashtra, entrusted NIC with the responsibility of computerizing the whole gamut of information flow for the Games. It was a gesture of extreme confidence and NIC lived up to expectations. With its usual display of professionalism, the Organization came up with what is known as the Sports Information System of NIC (SISNIC). Three functional components were the mainstays of SISNIC:
☐ Design, development and implementation of a Computerized Results Information System, RISNIC. ☐ Design, development and implementation of an Accreditation and Registration Information System, RAISNIC. ☐ Provision of satellite communication services linking all major stadia in Pune and Bombay.
# RISNIC produces results
The Results Information System of NIC (RISNIC) covered the entire range of 27 games and 290 events of the National Games, and also provided information on the results of earlier National Games (1985 to 1987) for reference. Computers installed in all the stadia in which the Games were being conducted, used RISNIC to prepare the results of the Games, based on score sheets. Event-wise and match-wise results were prepared. At the end of each day, complete results of the day for all games and medal tally reports were printed at the Bal Bhavan, Balewadi and BHA stadia. On the last day of the Games, RISNIC produced the overall results of all the games and events. RISNIC also provided access to the records of the 1985 National Games in Delhi and 1987 National Games in Kerala, which could be viewed on computer terminals or printed along with the current results. Reports of medals distributed and National Records set during the Games were produced for each game and event.
Computerization was a boon for the media and other experts in the field. Computers at the respective stadia were connected to each other through NIC's satellite-based computer-communication system, NICNET, and dedicated telephone lines. This made it possible to combine results of all the games held at various geographically separated stadia to produce the overall results at any moment of time. The use of modern computer and communication technology helped the Organizing Committee in declaring the up-to-date results to the Press and sports associations in a very organized manner.
# Co-ordination with RAISNIC
The Registration and Accreditation Information System developed by NIC (RAISNIC) enabled computers to manage pre-Games data related to 27 games, 290 events, 28 States, 5,000 players and numerous officials spread over several venues in Bombay and Pune. The national sports federations and the state Olympic associations were requested to submit details of all players participating in the Games. This information, for example, consisted of player's name, state, game, age, sex and the details of events in which the player would participate. Obviously, it was not feasible to manually administer this large volume of data so vital for smooth conduct of the Games. RAISNIC collected and processed this pre-Games data effectively, saving a lot of time and energy.
Using RAISNIC, computers processed the information on individual players and applied various checks to ensure consistency. The data was then used to prepare the game-wise list of the participants and the list compared with the original document for accuracy. It was also possible to update the data in case of any changes. Various reports were prepared based on this data, and the reports, in turn, were used to prepare detailed schedules for all events. Various summary tables, which gave the number of players for each game, event and state, were generated automatically through RAISNIC. These summary tables were found to be very useful for the purposes of accreditation and for the overall conduct of the Games.
Similarly, reports with information regarding various committee members, media personnel, technical officials, Games officials from various associations etc. were prepared for assisting the registration process and management of manpower. In a nutshell, RAISNIC helped the Organizers in registering the participants, finalizing competitions, preparing draws of matches/heats, preparing competition schedules etc., with greater accuracy and in lesser time.
A combination of satcom and telecom media ensured integration and inter-communication of all games-related results during the entire duration of the Games. Satellite earth stations were installed in Bombay at the BHA Stadium (Churchgate), Shooting Range (Worli) and Sports Complex (Andheri); and in Pune at the Sri Shiv Chatrapati Sports City, Balbhavan (housing the National Games office) and PCMC Stadium (Pimpri-Chinchwad). Other stadia in Pune and Bombay were interconnected by data circuits.
In any computerization effort it all boils down to the basic question of the explicit implications for Users. As far as the National Games, or any other sporting event for that matter, is concerned, results processing and dissemination are the main objectives. The system basically has to cater to the media, and the media, on its part, gets the information across to the general public.
The primary aim of SISNIC was to enable Users to operate the System all by themselves. Users could retrieve and use all games-related information at their own pace and convenience. The SISNIC database was regularly updated to make it a versatile, user-friendly and very useful information system for media persons and all enthusiastic sports lovers. Media people had access to not only the results of the National Games '94 but also to the results of the previous National Games held in Delhi (1985) and Thiruvananthapuram (1987) and any other relevant sports-related information including existing world records. Also of immense help to the media was the on-line information on games schedules, medal winners, winning teams, medal tally etc. This information, as noted before, was readily available in user-friendly and conveniently retrievable forms. Mediapersons were able to retrieve specific information of interest and build up write-ups, stories etc. To facilitate quick reference to the results of the games/events conducted or completed up to a point in time, a continuously rolling/scrolling mode of information display was provided. Useful information on the NIC was also provided.
Computerization of the National Games '94 was yet another milestone in NIC's proven track record. The National Informatics Centre has set yet another record for itself. And it won't be long before it breaks its own record. (For further information please contact: The Director, NIC (WR), Ganesh Khind Road, Pune - 400 032, Maharashtra.)