The graphic [News briefing]

A pole is a pole is a pole, right? well, not so. competitors in the polevaulting at London 2012 will be sure to keep their bespoke vaulting equipment safe in preparation for the games, as the poles are comprised of some pretty high-tech materials. poles are produced by wrapping pre-cut sheets of wound fibreglass around a metal pole mandrel. this results in a slightly pre-bent pole that flexes more under the compression caused by the athlete´s take-off stance. the desired length and stiffness of pole is determined by the shape of the fibreglass sheets, and the amount of fibreglass used