Orad Systems which delivers virtual sets, on-air graphics, and sports production tools has announced an agreement with NBC Olympics for the implementation of virtual graphic enhancement tools. These will be used for the US broadcaster's coverage of the swimming and track and field events at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

A company release states that for the second consecutive Summer Games, NBC Olympics and Orad will be working together. During the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia, Orad had provided NBC Olympics with graphic effects for the swimming contests. For the 2004 Olympic Games, NBC and Orad have decided to expand the use of the technology to more events in addition to swimming.

In Athens, NBC Olympics will be using Orad’s Cybersport technologies through various applications in order to enhance the viewer’s experience and understanding of the summer games. CyberSport virtual technology allows for the real-time insertion and integration of graphics into the field of play, enabling the viewers to identify athletes’ names and nationalities. The system has also been designed to highlight and 'paint' previous world records and up-to-the-moment milestones in order to provide the viewers’ with comparative and analytical tools in real-time.

The system will once again be deployed during swimming contests to insert the national flags for each contender, as well as the current world record line. It will also be used intensively in the track and field events, including the long jump competition, where it will 'paint' the ground using virtual graphics to differentiate the competitor’s jumps. During the discus throw, the system will create a 'line-to-beat' for every new throw, and for the javelin throw it will highlight and note the landing point, making it clearer for viewers to follow the progress in distance reached.

Orad is also in negotiations with other broadcasters worldwide for 2004 Athens Olympic games.