In water polo, there are two important zones at each end (I don't entirely 
understand the rules pertaining to the zones), the 2 m and 5 m zones.  These 
are marked by lines on the bottom, colored lane marker beads at the edges of 
the court, and the platforms the officials monitor play from.  The rules depend 
on zone.
 
Colors were red inside 2 m, yellow between 2 and 5 m, green outside the 5 m 
line.
 
Another sport I found very metric was the rowing competition (also the 
flatwater canoe and kayak, which used the same course).

--- On Thu, 8/9/12, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:


From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:51828] Metric Olympics
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Cc: "Valerie Antoine" <[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2012, 12:46 PM


One way that you can get more metric coverage is to tune in to the 
Spanish-language broadcast.  Most of the time the prattling commentary is 
unnecessary anyway (if you don't know Spanish).  Yesterday during the shot put, 
the Spanish coverage reported only metres thrown.

In the water polo competition, I was interested to note that the commentators 
(on the English-language broadcast) were describing distances in metres only.  
In the swimming competition, I can understand that, because the pool lengths 
are measured in metres.  But in water polo there are no obvious distance 
markings.  I would have thought that the commentators might revert to feet or 
years, but they didn't.

It may well be that metric will be introduced into the United States more by 
sports than by commerce.  Also, through the military.  I notice that the Army 
is using metric units for weapons (millimetres) and distances, using the slang 
term "click" for a kilometre.  The Air Force is somewhat metricated because of 
international air usage.  I surmise that the Navy is the least metricated of 
the services.

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