USE OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES (ICT) FOR PERFORMANCE MONITORING IN BIATHLON

Winter Biathlon can be considered one of the oldest human activities. It has its origins in hunting on skis. Military skiing patrols and their actions are reported more frequently at the very beginning of the second millennium AD in the northern regions. Biathlon trials combine two disciplines: cross-country skiing and rifle shooting when passing through a polygon. In biathlon, performance is reflected by three main factors: - Running speed on skis with the gun carried on the back; - Residence time in the polygon; - The shooting performance. Improving the results of these three factors has been an ongoing concern of both technicians and athletes. Computers have played a very important role in achieving outstanding performance as they provide opportunities for monitoring both during training and during competitions. In sports training, computers are used both in the practical activities carried out in the field and in laboratory activities. In competitive activity, computer use has become indispensable for: - Computer research; - Monitoring the reactions of biathletes during competitions; - Collecting, recording, processing and interpreting the results; - Analyzing biathletes' performance during competitions in terms of physical, technical, tactical and psychological training; - Developing the competitive schedule which is of major importance for the periods needed for getting in and out of athletic shape; - Recording the results obtained by biathletes in competitions; - Predicting outcomes in subsequent competitions. The aim of our paper is to introduce the means to use computers in order to monitor performance in biathlon for cross-country skiing and rifle shooting when passing through a polygon.