While people around the world are slowly trying to eke out a routine with the coronavirus scare still very dominant, major sporting events have begun to be held with restrictions. Bundesliga, the football tournament exclusive to the professional German clubs, was held this year with the stadiums empty and the players and other staff taking as much precaution as possible. Players used hand sanitiser frequently, with the goalkeepers rubbing the liquid over their gloves.
Continuing with the sporting events, the London Marathon is also scheduled to be held this year with the condition that participating elite athletes wear the Bump, a device which is said would help enforce social distancing, as per a report by BBC. The device will be worn by the 100 elite competitors and 500 event coordinators.
The Bump device is designed by Tharsus, a robotics company and is worn around the neck. It uses radio frequency to track if the social distancing norms are being maintained. If anyone from the event gets diagnosed with COVID-19, the ones who were there in close proximity will be notified. The marathon consists of a total of 19 laps in St. James Park.
The BBC report quotes race director Hugh Brasher as saying: “This weekend’s event is the culmination of months of planning around how to deliver a socially distanced 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon that is safe for all participants and stakeholders. This technology has played an important role, giving our athletes and internal teams extra confidence to engage with the event safely.”