How charity events can rekindle the Olympic spirit.
Last summer, 14,700 Olympic and Paralympic athletes gathered in London to compete across 805 sporting events. 9.6 million tickets were sold and over 100 hectares of open space was descended upon by people from around the world. The Olympics caught everyone’s attention in 2012 and has left a sizeable sporting gap in many people’s lives ever since the last closing ceremony firework exploded above the main stadium back in August.
It is therefore no wonder that, as another summer dawns, sporting events are beginning to ramp up. Charity runs, bike rides and various other lung-busting challenges are taking place with hundreds of thousands of ‘ordinary’ people downing their usual tools of the trade and instead grabbing their sports bags and sweatbands.
Schools, sports arenas and community centres are just some of the venues which traditionally cater for such events and do a fantastic job at raising awareness of whichever charity sits at the heart of their particular day. If you’re considering holding your own sporting event, we’ve got some simple tips which will help you provide facilities, organisation and an atmosphere Locog would be proud of.
1) If you’re unsure what type of event you want to organise, consider what’s currently popular. For example, there has been an explosion of interest in cycling following Bradley Wiggins’ rise to fame. The ease with which people can track their sporting endeavours on their smartphones has also spawned a nation of runners. If it’s current and easily enjoyed by spectators (for example, a golf tournament wouldn’t be quite as spectator friendly at such an event), you’ll get entrants flocking to sign up.
2) Decide how money will be raised. Donations can obviously come from spectators and entrants, but don’t forget local businesses who might also like to get involved with sponsorship. Online sign up forms and donation areas are a must.
3) Who’s going to host it? Events are glued together fantastically with comperes and a commentator is a must if you want to give it that professional sheen and air of excitement.
4) The gantry. Easily overlooked, but if your event involves a start and finish line, you need something for people to cross over (or under!). Inflatable race gantries such as the ones we can supply at Precise are easily deployed and can be decorated in your event’s colours and branding.
5) PA. Entrants and spectators will need to hear what’s going on and it’s therefore essential you install a weatherproof outdoor public address system which will ensure everyone gets to hear the running commentary and winner’s speech.
6) And last but not least – don’t forget the race clock!