History

Cameras were used in 2005 at first. Yalta, the World Cup, at the table – John Brzenk and Taras Ivakin (watch it here). Then camera gave an opportunity to compete longer and show more entertaining and quality work. According to eyewitnesses, Brzenk was worried before the fight because of the cameras. To make his position during the fight more stable, and especially - in a losing position, he used a little trick and tore his elbow under the table by a few millimetres. Referee did not have noticed, but on the record that was visible well. After that organizers decided to keep on using cameras during the final match.

If without?

2010, Las Vegas, ArmWars. There was high floor terrace and a table on it. No cams and no discipline. (You can watch it here)

Organizers apparently tried to show the world what is armwrestling. They even try to share video from that competition on sport channel Eurosport. But what could say absolutely uninformed people about the theatre, which was going on there? How could they learn basic rules of the fight, when they watched a video? If on the other competitions referee gave a foul after an elbow just tore a pad, why on that ArmWars sportsman could tear it on 15 cm up?

But still, we do not claim that all the matter is in cameras. But they play very important part in the regulation and discipline. With the camera referee can clearly define the boundaries of fouls, feel the difference between microfouls and full fouls.

Finally, they provide the opportunity to decide when to continue the fight, and when it is better to stop it.

What now?

At the World Cup in 2013 we have seen not the best job referee job with cameras. It surprised a lot of viewers. So is the problem in technique?

Let's look from the organizer’s side. According to Igor Mazurenko, usually (at Nemiroff World Cup, for example), a camera was served by trained staff. Such competitions passed without any hitches. This time the chief referee Leonard Harkless insisted that cameras would be served by master referees, but they were not skilled. It seems that it was the main reason of insipid fights. The rest of referees’ job was done very, very well.

Need to say that technical equipment is catching on. Cameras are used in many competitions and it is very hard to refuse already. Even referees speak positively about them.

As for referees’ training how to work with cameras – there could be several options. First one is to work with the already trained team, which is perfectly acquainted with the equipment and recording process. The second – to prepare a stable team of referees who will serve the technique on every competition. The third is to train referees at seminars before every competition. We think that the referees will make right decision.

We all love armwrestling and work for its promotion. Therefore it is necessary to pay attention to things like discipline and regulations, then other people could understand the beauty and complexity of the sport. Usage of modern technology allows us to progress. Or it’s better to stay on a tree with monkeys?

Anastasia Kisilyova