Seeking expressions of interest from gala organisers in UK to host an Australian high speed video timing trial in 2026
Why host a trial?
- Experience the most impactful innovation in competition swim timing since touchpads in the 1970s.
- Experience the opportunity to replace timekeepers with photo-finish results integrity.
- Eliminate controversial results with official video replay.
- Used by the majority of major swimming events in Australia's largest city (Sydney).
- Approved by major Australian swimming organisations. Under evaluation by World Aquatics and USA Swimming.
How it works
- 1.Erect a temporary camera
- 2.Record results
EoIs are invited from
- Organisers of galas in UK, June 2026.
- In a short course or long course pool (maximum size 50m 10 lanes).
- Using traditional timing (touchpads and buttons, and/or watches).
- Duration 3-12 hrs.
- With sufficient space on pool deck to locate a camping chair behind the finish line(s) and a computer with external monitor in the recording area.
- Grant permission for video timing to be operational during the event.
- Keen to host a trial!
Proposed trial format
- Gala organiser(s) meet with Olly Timing prior to the event to agree details.
- Olly Timing personnel setup 2.5hrs before the first race hits the water.
- Operate throughout the gala comparing video times with official results.
- Packup complete within 1.5hrs of event end.
- Post event review between the gala organiser(s) and Olly Timing.
Why is Olly Timing popular in Australia?
Olly Timing photo finish technology enables every single finish to be accurately timed. Video replay allows result controversies to be rapidly and authoritatively resolved. Queries can even be resolved weeks after the event.
Photo finish timing adds to the event stature. Athletes, coaches and spectators can enjoy the experience in the full confidence that the results are correct and fair. Fewer people on pool deck gives the swimmers more space to prepare.
Timekeeping ceases to be a critical duty which eliminates the recruitment and quality control challenge. Many event organisers choose to clear the pool deck entirely except for athletes and officials. Organiser stress about result accuracy is removed by Olly Timing.
Be the first to trial the latest technology!
Olly Timing's advanced computer vision software "sees" the moment that each swimmer finishes their race and records the times. These automatic times are promptly reviewed and potentially adjusted by our expert operator before becoming official.
Olly Timing is proven
Olly Timing is the world’s first computer vision high speed video swimming competition timekeeping system. It has been developed in collaboration with the University of Sydney, Swimming New South Wales (SNSW), Swimming Victoria and the Australian Sports Technologies Network.
Since commencing commercial operation in February 2024 it has achieved a number of significant milestones including:
Permanently installed at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and other NSW pools
Validated by SNSW for recording official times and used at the majority of their events
Recorded over 140,000 times and saved over 5 person years of timekeeper effort
Won the 2024 ANZ Sports Technology Award for Stadium & Venue Technology
Provided backup times for the entire 7-day SNSW Senior State Age Championships
Remotely timed events in USA from a distance of 16,000km in Australia
What do customers say?
FAQs
Olly Timing is considering entry into the UK market and would first like to understand its fit to the local market.
No. This is a bona fide market research exercise. Olly Timing will pay their own expenses. It is not anticipated that gala hosts will incur any expenses as a result of the trial.
In most Australian States Olly Timing is valid for official times. This is regardless of it being used alone as the primary timing system, or alongside touchpads as secondary. The times are certified in Swim Central where they can be used to qualify for events, including state and national.
No. Olly Timing will work in the background and not impact standard operating procedures.
It is likely that people will want to view Olly Timing in use so access for them should be anticipated.
Olly Timing will not be used as the official timing system at trial galas. For comparison purposes we can deliver Olly Timing results into Meet Manager software via networked connection or USB file transfer.
No technology is 100% reliable. Olly Timing has demonstrated reliability better than other systems.
Olly Timing uses high reliability security cameras which continuously archive all video. This can be used to replay events in case of system breakdown.
Olly Timing is at least as accurate as timekeepers. It has been extensively validated and the results are published here.
OllyGo is outdoor rated and has been successfully tested in a variety of conditions including sun, wind and rain. It is not capable of operating during severe weather conditions, although we anticipate that events would not proceed in such conditions anyway.
Checkout our YouTube channel which contains various videos of Olly Timing in action.
We will evaluate expressions of interest as they are received and expect to lock in dates 3 months ahead of each event.
We look forward to sharing with you!
Major Australian organisations entrust their major event timing to us today.
Hi!
I'm Ben Ramsden, founder of Olly Timing and swimming technical official.
Having attended around 500 swim meets over the last 20 years I probably have some experience of your situation.
I'd love to hear from you if you are keen to host Olly Timing at your event. Press the button below to express interest right now!
Thanks!
hello@ollytiming.com
+61 406 401 180
Thank you.
Olly Timing is a division of Wise Emu Pty Ltd registered in NSW, Australia.
ABN 50 679 264 478