FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2021 TCS New York City Marathon App Lets Fans Enjoy
a Hybrid Race Experience
Tata Consultancy Services' Award-Winning App Now Lets Fans Track
Both Virtual and In-Person Runners
NEW YORK | MUMBAI, October 22, 2021: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE:
532540, NSE: TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business
solutions organization and title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon,
and New York Road Runners (NYRR), the world's premier community running
organization, launched the official 2021 TCS New York City Marathon app.
For the first time, the new version of the app allows fans to
simultaneously track runners on the racecourse as well as those who are
competing virtually from anywhere in the world.
The 50th running of the TCS New York City Marathon will take place on
November 7 and the Virtual Marathon from October 23 to November 7.
The 2021 TCS New York City Marathon App is a true hybrid platform that
enables in-person and virtual runners, along with their supporters and
spectators, to share in the marathon experience. Virtual runners will
appear on the marathon course map in red and in-person runners will be in
blue. Elapsed time and pace will be available for all runners, every 5K of
their respective races. In addition, a new Marathon City: 3D Map feature
uses Augmented Reality (AR) technology to allow everyone to experience the
marathon course map as never before.
Virtual runners can share their GPS location with two spectators, so they
can be tracked wherever in the world they are running the marathon. All
other spectators tracking virtual runners will see their location that
corresponds with the distance they have covered on the TCS New York City
Marathon racecourse. For example, virtual runners between miles 16 and 18
will appear to be running up First Avenue in the app.
The location and estimated finishing time of in-person runners will be
calculated based on performance of training runs and past marathons. This
enhanced tracking capability will create the most accurate opportunities
for spectators to catch runners live on the course.
"As we return to the iconic TCS New York City Marathon racecourse across
the city's five boroughs, we are witnessing the race experience transform
like never before," said Surya Kant, Chairman of North America, TCS. "Our
2021 Marathon App is filled with innovations that will help make this
year's event a truly global experience, bringing both in-person
participants as well as virtual runners across the world together on one
platform."
"Together with our title partner TCS, we are looking forward to making the
50th running of the TCS New York City Marathon the most technologically
advanced marathon in history," said Christine Burke, Senior Vice President,
Strategic Partnerships and Runner Products, NYRR. "This will be a historic
year for the event in so many ways, and as we embark on another eight years
with TCS, there's no better way to have them engage with our runners than
through their most innovative marathon app ever."
The TCS New York City Marathon app features additional enhancements to
create a more immersive experience for virtual runners.
- At numerous dedicated mile markers in the virtual marathon, the app will
automatically play audio files with words of encouragement from past
marathoners and iconic sounds from the in-person race. For example, all
virtual marathon runners will begin their race with the sound of a cannon
going off, simulating a similar experience to what in-person runners hear
as their waves begin just south of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
- The app will also allow virtual runners to do an unlimited number of 5K
"Practice Runs" prior to their marathon journey to ensure they are
comfortable using the app on race day. On race day, virtual runners can
restart or pause an unlimited number of times but have 24 hours to complete
the 26.2-mile race.
- At the finish line, virtual runners will have access to a digital
certificate and a selfie filter with an AR medal that can be shared on
social media to celebrate their accomplishment.
Marathon City: 3D Map Details
Runners, spectators and fans can explore the TCS New York City Marathon
course map in AR through the Marathon City: 3D Map, including:
- Points of interest along and around the racecourse
- Race day starting times for various groups
- Elevation changes along the course
- Interactive map showing the Start Village in Staten Island
This new AR experience was created by TCS in a stylized "low-poly" design
similar to Marathon City: Sprint to Win and Marathon City: Spin to Win, two
inclusive gaming experiences that mimic racing the last 100 meters of the
TCS New York City Marathon racecourse through Central Park.
Other Key Features
- Share Tracking: This feature on the Runner Details page allows users to
share a link that initiates an automatic app download with a specific
runner already selected to be tracked during the race.
- Optimized Spectator Guides: The app's spectator guide helps fans create
an itinerary to navigate New York City, so they're able to see runners on
the course. The shareable guide provides a runner's estimated times of
arrival, along with transportation directions and recommended viewing
locations along the course.
- Cheer Cards: Allows fans to support runners using the app to share
messages on social media.
- Live Pro Athlete Leader Board and Bios: Closely track the race day
leaders in real time, as well as have access to bios, records and images of
professional athletes running the race.
To download the TCS New York City Marathon App powered by Tata Consultancy
Services, go to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
About Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business
solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world's
largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 50 years. TCS
offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of
business, technology and engineering services and solutions. This is
delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model,
recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.
A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS
has over 528,000 of the world's best-trained consultants in 46 countries.
The company generated consolidated revenues of US $22.2 billion in the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay
Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS'
proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities
across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices
such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging
Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com.
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