AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY
'Sports is our Business'
  • Home
  • NEWS
  • Rankings
  • Radio
  • TV

2020 Virgin Money London Marathon to use social-distancing technology

9/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon is working with Tharsus, one of the UK’s most advanced robotics companies, to use its Bump technology system to implement social-distancing during the build-up to and at the elite events on Sunday 4 October.
 
Tharsus’s Bump devices will be worn by the 100 elite athletes preparing to take part in the men’s, women’s and wheelchair races. Devices will also be worn by 500 members of the Virgin Money London Marathon’s operational team to help maintain the biosecure bubble for the event.

Developed in anticipation of the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic would have, Bump is a cutting-edge system designed to help wearers feel safe, inform effective social-distancing behaviour and thus reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. It comprises wearable and static devices that use sophisticated Radio Frequency (RF) technology to create a 'Personal Motion System' that immediately alerts wearers when they are getting too close to another person.
​

The Bump devices will allow marathon organisers to accurately monitor how often and for how long elite athletes and event staff spend within a pre-defined distance of each other. The system will not only make it clear when wearers get too close to one another, but should a wearer test positive for Covid-19 in the two weeks following the event, organisers will be able to trace interactions back to specific wearers and inform them accordingly.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Virgin Money London Marathon, said: “This weekend’s event is the culmination of months of planning around how to deliver a socially distanced 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon that is safe for all participants and stakeholders. Tharsus’s Bump technology has played an important role, giving our athletes and internal teams extra confidence to engage with the event safely. 

“We have been working with Tharsus for many months and, when we were still hoping to deliver the mass participation event on its usual route, we were planning to supply all participants with the Bump technology in order to hold a socially distanced mass event. It shows how important a role technology can play in the current situation.”

Brian Palmer, CEO of Tharsus Group, said: “With fresh Government restrictions being regularly reintroduced, it’s crucial that we adopt measures where possible that help us convene safely and allow society to retain a sense of normalcy. Despite being behind closed doors, many sports fixtures and events continue to take place, highlighting that the industry is leading the way in using technology to continue operating safely.

“This will not only provide vital support to clubs and organisations suffering a significant impact on their revenue, but will also be a huge boost for national morale. The Virgin Money London Marathon is a foremost example of this; it is a hugely symbolic sporting event and we are delighted to be playing a role in facilitating its delivery in such challenging circumstances.”

Due to restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 event will feature elite-only races taking place in a biosecure bubble in St James’s Park. A virtual version of The 40th Race will see 45,000 runners from across the UK and the world run the Virgin Money London Marathon their way. Participants will have 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds (from 00:00:00 to 23:59:59 BST) to complete the 26.2 miles, which they can choose to run, walk or jog – making the event the most inclusive London Marathon ever.
​

Editor
​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    July 2024
    June 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Menu

    All
    2014 FIFA World Cup
    Athletics
    Basketball
    Boxing
    Commonwealth Games
    Cricket
    Golf
    Hockey
    Marathons
    News
    Olympics
    Rugby
    Soccer
    Spotlight
    Tennis
    Track And Field
    Volleyball
    Women Soccer
    Wrestling


    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed


    Tweets by ASMONTHLY

Tweet to @ASMONTHLY

Contact Us

    Contact Us

Submit

Donate & Support Our Efforts at African Sports Media Network