AWOL has been commissioned to provide space-enabled, live event photos at the AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Leeds, organised by British Triathlon on 5-6 June. This service is set to boost participant engagement and virtual spectator involvements, helping the recovery of an industry heavily impacted by COVID-19.
A UK space company has been commissioned to provide space-enabled, live event photos at the AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Leeds, organised by British Triathlon on 5-6 June. This service is set to boost participant engagement and virtual spectator involvements, helping the recovery of an industry heavily impacted by COVID-19.
In partnership with the UK and European Space Agencies, event tech firm AWOL Adventure have been developing a service to deliver real time event photography – removing the unnecessary waiting time for images after a sporting event.
AWOL will provide a team of photographers over the weekend, positioned in Roundhay Park and out on the Course. With their cameras using linked via satellite to AWOL’s service, GPS data and image recognition, images will be identified and delivered as live alerts directly to friends, family and the media, according to the participants’ choices. The project is supported by some of the UK’s major tech brands including SCAN, BigBlu and Wex, bringing in cutting edge tech from the likes of Microsoft, Amazon, Nikon and ASUS.
The AJ Bell 2021 World Triathlon Leeds is a vital part of the British athletes’ Olympic and Paralympic race preparation, and is a highly prestigious event seeing the majority of the UK Triathlete and Paratriathlete fields competing. The event also sees a 2,000-strong field of amateur mass participation triathletes tackle the challenging course in Leeds and the surrounding countryside.
This event will be a key component of the managed return to mass participation events after the long hiatus caused by the global pandemic.
Andy Salmon, Chief Executive Officer at British Triathlon said:
“I’m delighted to see this event return for 2021. It’s going to be exciting to not only see elite triathletes and paratriathletes on the start line but also our first timers through to our seasoned athletes back enjoying our sport.
“We’re thrilled that AWOL will be joining us as this new technology offers the opportunity to engage spectators and media all around the UK without the requirement for them to be physically present, and this will give a boost to participants. We’re excited to invite AWOL to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports, and it’s great to see the UK tech industry leading the way in this.”
Matt Brocklehurst, Chief Technical Officer at AWOL said:
“Since September we’ve been busy developing our existing Live Photography capability to be extremely robust, scaleable, and highly personal. We’re excited to demonstrate its capabilities to the world, and it’s fitting this should be showcased at such a prestigious UK event – at a critical point for all in Mass Participation.
“AWOL is a living, breathing, and personal engine delivering the critical digital components to participants and their supporters at sporting events – photos, videos, results and registration; it’s all on the roadmap and nothing is off the table at this point".
Graham Turnock, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:
“Space is a glue that joins together many of the practical parts of our everyday lives, from how we bank to our food delivery. But it also supports technologies like sports photography that make life more fun.
“AWOL’s concept will help revolutionise the quality and the speed of sports photography and I am certain anyone who has taken part in these kinds of events will look forward to using this service.”
About the Space Sector:
The UK space sector is an economic success story, growing by over 60% since 2010. The sector already supports £300 billion of UK economic activity through the use of satellite services, and the government has established a new National Space Council to consider how space policy can enhance the country’s prosperity and place in the world, as well as our security interests.
The UK continues to be a leading member of the European Space Agency, which is independent of the EU, having committed a record investment of £374 million per year in November 2019. Satellites support the economy and everyday life and this is one of the UK’s fastest growing industries.
About AWOL:
Established 8 years, AWOL is a UK-based digital company specialising in Sports Event Technology, and is responsible for previous major innovations around Facial Recognition and rapid image availability.
Headline clients include London Marathon Events, Human Race, Castle Triathlon, British Triathlon, Events of the North, Chester Marathon and OSB Events as well as approximately 100 events annually from across the UK and abroad.
