London, 5th April 2004: In a UK first, every London Marathon competitor can keep their friends and family updated on their race with a free text message service provided by Orange, the official communications partner to the Flora London Marathon.
The text service allows runners to nominate three friends or family members to be kept up to date on their progress with personalised text messages sent to the supporter’s mobile phone at various intervals throughout the 26-mile course.
This means that a friend trekking in Scotland, your sister studying in Newcastle or your grandmother living in Liverpool can all keep track of your race progress if a trip to London isn’t possible. The service also allows spectators of the race an easier way to find their friends and family on what is always a busy day in the capital.
The text-timing service uses a small timing chip attached to the runner’s laces and sensor mats at the start, finish and at various points along the course. Every time a chip crosses a mat, that chip is identified and the data – including runner’s name, race number, distance and elapsed time from the start line – is recorded. This chip system is already used by the Marathon to record runners’ times. Orange will take the timing data and turn it into a unique, personalised text message that will be sent to the runner’s three nominated supporters. All runners registered for the service will receive a ‘congratulations’ message after crossing the finish line that includes their unofficial race time.
The texts are free to send and receive and it doesn’t matter which UK mobile network the runner or their supporters are on.
All the runner has to do is simply register his or her name, mobile and race number on www.orange.co.uk/marathon and select three people that they want to be kept updated on their progress.
Runners can register for the text-timing service until 5:30pm on Saturday 17th April 2004, the night before the race. The chips will be given to runners when they register for the race at the London Marathon Exhibition event at ExCeL, Royal Victoria Dock, London. There will also be Orange terminals at the ExCel arena for last minute registrations.
On race day, competitors simply fasten the chip to their running shoes using the special tags provided and let Orange do the rest.
Niamh Byrne, head of PR & Sponsorship at Orange UK said: ‘We’re delighted to become part of the Flora London Marathon and it gives us the chance to offer runners real benefits and compelling services. The free text-timing service is a great example, helping to bring the runners and their supporters closer together.’
In another element of Orange’s communications partnership with this year’s Marathon, ten celebrities with all carry a small Orange mobile phone that will use GPS mobile tracking technology to plot, in real time, their progress through the race. A rolling leader board and course map shown live on BBC1 on Sunday 18th April 2004 will keep television viewers up to date on which famous face is leading the pack.
So register at www.orange.co.uk/marathon and let your feet do the texting.
For further information contact –
Jen Barrett – jen.barrett@ketchum.com / 07967 644 382
Toby Harrison – toby.harrison@ketchum.com / 07931 516 554
Orange Media Centre – 020 7984 2000