The Electronic Olympics

Just before Dave Henderson, photographer for Sports Weekly, leaves to cover the Olympic Games, he's called to a press conference. Suddenly a message flashes out of a square box in front of the room: HELLO, MY NAME IS PED-72. I AM THE OFFICIAL OLYMPIC COMPUTER. I WILL JUDGE ALL OLYMPIC EVENTS.Yes, it's the age of the Electronic Olympics, engineered by scientists, played by programmed athletes. Zero possibility of error, or at least not until Dave and his friend Larry Spitzig step in. They dislike the idea of mechanical sport and have a couple of excellent plans for clogging the gears.As Dave and Larry outsmart miler Speed "The Running Machine" Sloan, help the local police to victory in a special event called "orienteering," and rescue a champion girl diver in distress, electronic devices break down at almost the same rate that laughs build up.When The Electronic Olympics first was published in 1971, Runner's World contributing writer Hal Higdon's book bordered on science fiction. Today, most of what he predicted has become fact. Read more