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Game changers: A look at the technology and innovation currently making waves across the world of sport

A look at the technology and innovation currently making waves across the world of sport

Published in Sports Management 21 Mar 2016 issue 116

Great runners to benefit from technology

The Great Run Company – which organises mass participation events across the UK – has signed a new partnership deal with navigational tech specialists TomTom.

TomTom has become the official wearable technology partner across the full Great Run series of events in 2016. As a result, all Great Run participants will have the opportunity to trial TomTom’s product range to help improve their performance and general fitness. TomTom will also have a presence at all Great Run events during the year.

Great Run Company chief executive Mark Hollinshead said: “Fitness and performance is obviously very important to our runners, and therefore the partnership with TomTom, and their product range, is the perfect fit.”

Tom Brown, TomTom vice president for UK, said: “This partnership is the ideal platform for us to showcase our fourth generation GPS running watch, the TomTom Runner 2. The integrated music player, built-in heart rate monitor, real time GPS information and 24/7 tracking make it the perfect training partner for participants preparing for race day.“

The Great Run Company organises some of Europe’s most popular mass runs
The Great Run Company organises some of Europe’s most popular mass runs

Queues go down
with Bottoms Up

A new beer system is revolutionising the way draft beer is dispensed at busy venues – and is already becoming the industry-standard for serving draft beer at US sports events.

Bottoms Up was created by American Josh Springer, who wanted to create a more profitable (and speedier) way of selling beer to fans at stadiums and events.

The automated, hands-free system cuts queueing times, brings downs staff cost and cuts waste – while also adding advertising and promotional opportunities.

When a Bottoms Up cup is placed onto its specially-designed dispenser, the system automatically fills in the desired amount, leaving the server free to process the transaction and to engage customers for additional sales.

The system is capable of pouring multiple servings simultaneously, nine times faster than a traditional tap.

While cutting queuing times to a minimum, the fully-automated system increases profitability by guaranteeing no spills and no bad pours by staff.

The Bottoms Up MAG (magnet advertising graphic) which seals the cups can also be used as an advertising platform. Whether the space is branded by the venue or sold to a third party, it creates revenue opportunities outside of traditional avenues.

The system was created by Josh Springer
The system was created by Josh Springer

Military grade cycle for Team GB Olympic hopefuls

UK Sport and British Cycling have teamed up with multinational security organisation BAE Systems on the development of an advanced ergometer in advance of the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The system designed by BAE measures work-rate and energy loss, replicating the forces of the velodrome “more accurately than any other testing tool”. It was also designed to be easily portable, meaning it can be used in a laboratory “ensuring accurate data capture”.

Paul Barratt, the lead biomechanist for the GB cycling team at the English Institute of Sport, said “highly-accurate testing tools” such as the new ergometer helped to “ensure athletes are performing at their most competitive” before competition.

“BAE Systems has created a portable and accurate system we believe will be integral to the teams’ training regimes and will help us to achieve our medal target at the Rio Games,” he added.
“The cycling ergometer is a unique system which we hope will boost the success of the British Cycling team and is one of a number of projects on which we are working this year with UK Sport,” added BAE Systems’ UK Sport Technology Partnership Henry White.

British Cycling’s request for an adaptable tool that could be customised for different riders and events led to the development of the equipment. It strengthens the eight-year relationship between UK Sport and BAE, who have worked together to apply cutting edge technology usually reserved for the armed forces for elite Olympic athletes.

The ergometer will help Team GB cyclist perform at this year’s Rio Olympics
The ergometer will help Team GB cyclist perform at this year’s Rio Olympics

Multi-story skating

Guy Hollaway Architects look set to develop the world’s first multi-storey skatepark in the UK port town of Folkestone after their design received planning approval from the local council.

The park will host a variety of popular urban sports including skateboarding, BMX-ing, rollerblading and scootering, with additional trial cycling facilities, a bouldering gym and a boxing club. A cafe and rooftop function room with views across the nearby harbour will also feature.

The skatepark will serve as a national and international attraction, besides offering access to young people involved in the local skate scene. People who live in the district of Shepway will be able to use the facilities at special low prices if they have a regular monthly subscription.

The structure will be clad in two layers of perforated mesh, creating natural ventilation for the skateable levels and giving the building a translucent glowing effect during the evenings.

Construction work will begin almost immediately, and the £10m facility is expected to take between 18 and 24 months to complete.

The centre is being funded by The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.

The facility will be the first of its kind in the world
The facility will be the first of its kind in the world
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