Category Archives: Sport

Understanding body weight and height in metric units

It was inevitable that the selection of London to host the Olympic Games would bring into focus some of the consequences of the UK’s measurement muddle. Metric Views looks at one aspect, the measurement of body height and weight, measured … Continue reading

Posted in Education, General, Health, Sport, World Records | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Marathon myth

With the London Marathon being run today, it is timely to remember the metric origins of the marathon, and to puncture the myth that it is a race measured in imperial units.

Posted in General, History, Myths, Sport | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Does the failure of the English World Cup bid have any lessons for supporters of completing metrication?

What on earth has the football World Cup got to do with metrication?  Nothing, you might say…but…on reflection, is there a connection?

Posted in General, Sport | Tagged , | 24 Comments

Virgin London Marathon 2010

Martin Vlietstra, a frequent contributor to MetricViews, passes on some misgivings about on the 2010 London Marathon.

Posted in Health, Sport | 7 Comments

A 21st Century Approach to UK Peaks

Walking has never been so attractive. It’s cheap, it keeps you fit and it gets you away from the crowds. Yesterday’s launching of a new interactive website on Ben Nevis draws together for the first time a UK-wide peak challenge … Continue reading

Posted in General, Health, Mountains, Sport | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

No Olympic games without measurement

Accurate and consistent measurement is fundamental to modern life, and in few branches of human activity is it more important than in sport – including, of course, the Olympic Games. This is the message given by Andrew Wallard, the President … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Health, Media, Sport, Technical | 2 Comments

The London Marathon

This weekend thousands of runners will test themselves to the full in the annual Flora London Marathon. At 42.195 km, it is a race of endurance. But why 42.195 km? That is tied up in the history of the 1908 … Continue reading

Posted in General, Media, Sport | 9 Comments

How big is a hectare?

One of the least known metric units – and one which journalists and estate agents seem to struggle with – is the hectare (ha). So perhaps it will help to relate this very useful measure to the sizes of sports … Continue reading

Posted in General, Sport | 21 Comments

Football going metric?

Viewers of “Match of the Day” on 9 December had the unusual experience of hearing football commentary in metric. Was this an aberration or a straw in the wind? (asks Robin Paice)

Posted in Media, Sport | 8 Comments