On Feb. 18, 2024, a groundbreaking event took place - the Barbenders Static Cup in Belgium. This international calisthenics event, where 48 strong men and women from around the world demonstrated their strength and agility, was the scene of a revolutionary technological breakthrough: VPlay.
VPlay is a video delay system that supports judges in various sports in making important decisions. Although already used in other sports, this was the first time it was introduced to the world of calisthenics.
Improved perception and judging:
Participants in the Barbenders Static Cup mainly demonstrated the static elements of calisthenics, such as overhead balances, intermediate balances, one- and two-arm handstands and front and backlevers. VPlay allowed the judges to calculate their scores more accurately and insightfully by allowing them to instantly and easily review each exercise or element. This increased not only the accuracy of judging, but also the experience of competition for both the athletes and the audience. More than 80% of decisions were made using VPlay, underscoring the impact of this technology. One judge quoted, "Without this system, we can't judge properly."
But the impact of VPlay is not limited to the Barbenders Static Cup. It was also applied at the calisthenics streetlifting FinalRep Benelux event on June 1 and 2, 2024, which featured the disciplines of muscle-up, pull-up, dip and squat. It was all about 1RM (rep max). Again, there was a very enthusiastic response to the use of VPlay.
VPlay is a game-changer in the world of calisthenics, radically changing the way competitions are judged and experienced. It is an exciting time for the sport, and we look forward to further developments!
