Faster, higher, stronger: the Olympic motto underlines the eternal emphasis on improving performance in the quest for records and sporting achievement. Every sport (can you think of an exception?) involves measurements of one kind or another.

Quite apart from the determination of the distance traveled and the time taken, the dimensions of pitches, the heights of barriers and the properties of accessories must all be known.

Improvements in performance have not generally been matched by any need for improved accuracy, but care has to be taken to ensure that measurements are reliable, consistent and fair. Most sports metrology, while not particularly demanding, may not be trivial and may present challenges which require greater attention to detail. In track athletics, for instance, errors in the straightness and orthogonality of lines may be more significant than point to point distance measurement or the recording of competitors’ times. A world record in a field event may depend on the weight and condition of the shot, discus or javelin and the weigh-in is a crucial precursor to horse races and boxing bouts.

In some cases, it is measurements taken far from the track or arena which are the most demanding metrologically, with the potential to have a major impact on results and even careers. The performance of formula one racing cars depends critically on the properties of the materials used in their construction and agreement between the manufacturers and the National Physical Laboratory has ensured that all cars comply with the relevant regulations. The need for reliable testing of athletes to identify those illegally taking performance-enhancing drugs also calls for international standards, harmonised procedures and traceable measurements in accredited laboratories.

Modern sport metrology has come a long way from the days of tape measures and stop watches, with the impact of new technology and the introduction of regulations and testing protocols covering all aspects of performance.