London Olympics 2012: Ninth Google Doodle Captures Pole Vault

Google's ninth doodle since the opening ceremony of the London Olympics 2012 is dedicated to pole vault.

The image on Google's home page shows a female pole vaulter attempting a leap over the bar using a long and flexible pole. The Google logo is partially seen outside the stadium in the backdrop. The ceiling of the stadium is painted in green, yellow and red.

Since 1896, pole vault men's competitions have been part of the Olympics. However, the women's competition was included in the Games at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Earlier, ash poles were used in the competition but lately they have been replaced with fibreglass poles with rubber ends. The landing area of the pole vault is covered with high-tech mats with foam to minimise the possibility of injury to the athletes.

In the pole vault competitions, athletes have the freedom to choose the heights they wish to compete and if he or she wins, the height of the bar is elevated for the next set of jumps. Failing in three consecutive jumps leads to elimination.

The London 2012 pole vault events are scheduled to take place from 8 to 10 August.

The Olympic record for pole vault is set by Australian pole vaulter Steven Hooker with 5.96 metres at the 2008 Beijing Games. The women's title is held by Russia's Elena Isinbaeva with 5.05 metres; she is also the world record holder with 5.06 metres.

Google is carrying on its tradition of every day doodles during the world's greatest sports extravaganza, the Olympic Games.