A Light Shower To Optimise Performance

Activating light is helping Austrian Ski Federation athletes prepare for their competitions. The activating light was developed by Tyrolean lighting specialists Bartenbach and the Swiss company emt as part of a European research project.

High-intensity, cold white light makes human beings active. What was scientifically proven at the beginning of the 2000’s is now being used by the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV) to help make its athletes more active. High light intensities not only have a positive effect on our minds, they also increase our well-being, as well as our attention, ability to concentrate and willingness to perform. The subject of light has been of importance to the ÖSV for some time now, as it’s well known that a lack of light in winter poses a problem, which often affects athletes during the many competitions that take place during evening hours. Several ÖSV athletes used the activating light unit at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang in South Korea – and were completely satisfied.

The light was developed by Tyrolean lighting expert Bartenbach and the Swiss company emt. Since the originally planned light therapy cabins were too large and unwieldy for transport to South Korea, Bartenbach suggested another way to use the light at the Olympic Games. Employees of the renowned lighting design and research firm developed an innovative floor lamp as part of the GREAT [AAL-2016-023] project, which integrates light therapy into normal indoor lighting. The free-standing luminaire, a simple mobile solution, promotes the circadian rhythm within human beings and contains light settings that can be used for both activation and calming. To use this system with the ÖSV, researchers focused on activation by a light shower that had very high intensities and bluish light. According to a survey of athletes, the luminaires specially adapted for the ÖSV promoted their willingness and ability to perform, especially when competing during late evening hours. To make transport uncomplicated, a special slimmed-down, “light” version was provided, which consisted of little more than a luminaire head and power supply unit.