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Application
IT at the Mumbai marathon
A race in which participants are handed over printed details
of their performance a few minutes after crossing the finishing line? That’s
what happened at January’s Mumbai Marathon, says Shivani Shinde
 Were
you one of those at the Mumbai Marathon who instead of running the entire stretch
took a short-cut thinking that no one noticed you? And then when you went to
collect the timing certificate you did not get it? Blame it on the small chip
that was given to you at the start of the race for tying to your shoe-laces.
Wondering what we are talking about? The chips, known as ChampionChips, were
provided by a company called Mika Timing Gmbh, and recorded the exact movements
of the participants. The chips were flown in from Germany for the event by Procam
International, the race organisers.
ChampionChip is a technology that is used in many international sporting events
today. It has been associated with events such as the London Marathon, Berlin
Marathon, Boston Marathon, Deutschlandtour and Vattenfall Cyclassics (cycling)
and Hamburg City Triathlon.
The development of ChampionChip technology started in 1993, initiated by the
organisers of the Seven Hills Run in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. It was officially
introduced at the Berlin Marathon in September 1994.
| The ChampionChip used at the Mumbai
Marathon was a miniature transponder in a specially-designed plastic case.
The device contains a chip in combination with an energising coil; both
are encased in a waterproof glass capsule ensuring that it can be used in
any weather.
The transponder is passive until used in a magnetic
field generated by a send antenna. The energising coil produces an electric
current to power the chip. This happens the moment a user hits the mats
placed at different locations along the race route. The transponder then
transmits its unique identification number to a receive antenna. The procedure
takes approximately 60 milliseconds.
The send and receive antennas are cast in thin
tartan mats which are placed at the finishing line and other locations.
They are connected to a yellow box containing electronics and batteries
placed at the kerbside. Each time an athlete wearing the chip crosses
the mat, it gets energised and sends out the ID number. The details are
then stored in a timing computer for processing.
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Informs Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam, “We
came to know about Mika and their services at the London Marathon. Since we
were looking at having a marathon on an international scale, we thought of using
their services.” Mika Timing is now Procam’s preferred supplier for
timing technology.
| The company has been developing many
services around its core competency of timing. These include live Internet
and intranet services for television broadcasting, speaker/announcer services,
live certificate and medal printing with personal results, and marketing
services pertaining to the registration process.
When Mika introduced the ChampionChip about 10
years ago, it was the first-of-its-kind system; it is still the biggest
player in the world in its field.
Other transponder technologies like AMB (used for
car racing) and the Japanese JChip system are also in vogue.
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The association began three years ago. Frank Ratajczak, Project
Leader, Mika Timing for the Mumbai Marathon, wrote to Express Computer in an
e-mail: “In Mumbai this was our third year. We provided the ChampionChip
to participants who wanted to use it. In Germany, a chip is compulsory, which
is not the case in Mumbai.” However, he points out that over a period of
time the acceptance rate in Mumbai has grown from only 400 chips in the first
year to 2,000 chips in 2006. “We service about 200 events every year around
the world with a team of 15 full-timers and about 70 part-timers,” adds
Ratajczak.
The ChampionChip uses RFID technology, but it is a passive
chip which means it does not need an internal power supply. As a result, the
chip can be quite small in size and have a long life-span.
It transmits its worldwide unique code to the receiving unit of the system when
it crosses mats with antennas that build up an electromagnetic field. “The
mats are placed on the track at strategic locations such as the starting point,
splits and finishing point,” explains Ratajczak. The chip’s seven-digit
alphanumeric code is linked to information provided by the participant.
There are many ways to distribute the chip, but live registration one day prior
to the race is the best, feels Ratajczak. “This reduces the failure of
the system as the chip information is already in the organiser’s database.”
Singh adds: “Mika has special software that integrates with our database,
so when a participant gives an ID number all the details are promptly available.”
Explains Ratajczak: “When someone hits the mat at the finishing line, his
timings flash on a linked computer screen that very second. Later, he can collect
a printout of his performance details.”
The collected data can be distributed in many ways for publication of results,
marketing and so on. But Singh says that the most important role of these chips
is with regard to registration and medical emergency (as it allows organisers
to locate a participant easily).
Thanks to the chip, participants at the Mumbai Marathon were pleasantly surprised
at the speed with which they received their certificates at the end of the race—just
a few minutes later.
The Indian experience
Sharing his experience, Ratajczak says that Mumbai was a challenge initially.
“Infrastructure was the biggest problem. Good infrastructure—networks,
telephones, GSM, Internet, power, offices in the field, safe start/finish areas
and so on—are basic needs for us. We and the organisers worked hard and
now know how we can do it better.”
Though on the right track, he feels that the Mumbai Marathon could be improved.
“It was a pleasure to be a part of it. We have got a second event in the
New Delhi half-marathon, and next year we are going to dig deeper into that
market.”
shivani@expresscomputeronline.com
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