Bird's-Eye View of the Alpine Giant Slalom Course There will be plenty of cameras on the ground along the length of the Alpine giant slalom course to bring exciting images of the races to audiences around the globe, but there will also be an overhead camera to provide aerial views of competitors. A remote-controlled camera mounted on cables about 10 meters (35 feet) above the course will be used to film skiers as they race down the mountain at speeds in excess of 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour). The camera will traverse the course diagonally for about 350 meters (1,150 feet), about a quarter of the entire distance. Television viewers will be able to watch the event from the perspective of a hawk swooping swiftly through the sky. Overhead cameras were used in several events, including canoeing, at the 1996 Atlanta Games. This type of camera work demands the latest technology, as well as extreme care to ensure that no shadows are cast on the snow to distract competitors.

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