FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A year of monumental firsts
The 2022 TCS London Marathon will welcome several significant new
partnerships, initiatives and events
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the TCS London Marathon, believes that this
year's event on Sunday 2 October will mark a pivotal moment in its 42-year
history, with various changes set to make it a stand-out sporting occasion.
Partnership with Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will be the headline partner of the TCS
London Marathon for the first time in 2022, making it the seventh partner
the event has seen.
Having been the technology partner of the London Marathon since 2016, TCS
will continue to support the event in its digital growth, enhancing
experiences for participants, spectators and sponsors and helping to unite
communities through physical activity.
Hugh said: "There are some amazing innovations that TCS can do to bring
people together. Through the Official TCS London Marathon App, powered by
TCS, spectators can submit messages of support for their chosen
participants, which will show on a digital screen as they head down The
Mall.
"It is always one of the most emotional moments of many people's lives as
they run down that final stretch from Buckingham Palace – and to see
messages from their loved ones on the digital screen as they cross the
Finish Line is going to make it even more impactful."
Reimagined TCS Mini London Marathon
The TCS Mini London Marathon is back in a completely new format for 2022,
taking place for the first time as a standalone event on Saturday 1 October
– the day before the 26.2-mile event.
Around 7,000 children – the same number of people who registered for the
very first London Marathon in 1981 – of all ages, abilities and backgrounds
are set to descend upon London for the inaugural event. The vision is for
50,000 children to take part in the event in 2030, which is the same number
of participants forecast for the mass TCS London Marathon in coming years.
Every school with pupils taking part in the event will receive £10 for each
child who finishes, to put towards sports or IT equipment. This mini event
will therefore have a major positive impact on the next generation.
Hugh said: "I think the TCS Mini London Marathon is possibly, singularly,
the most important thing the London Marathon has ever done since my father
[Chris Brasher] and John Disley founded the event in 1981.
"The Mini London Marathon has an incredible heritage, with Sir Mo Farah,
Jill Scott – one of the Lionesses officially starting the 2022 TCS London
Marathon – David Weir and Alistair Brownlee among those who completed the
event as youths. But now, it is truly becoming an event for all."
Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge – who is fresh from smashing his own world
record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon – is an Ambassador for the TCS Mini
London Marathon and will be in London on Event Day to hand out medals to
some of the finishers.
Hugh said: "Kipchoge is the most incredible man and has talked eloquently
about inspiring the next generation – we are absolutely delighted to be
welcoming him here."
Greater inclusion and inspiring stories
Other firsts for 2022 include the introduction of more inclusive policies:
entries for assisted participants; enhanced deferral options for pregnant
or postpartum participants; and special considerations for participants in
the virtual TCS London Marathon who are unable to complete the event on
Marathon Day, either for religious reasons or due to a disability.
Rainbow Row is another new addition to the iconic TCS London Marathon
route. Located on what is usually Butcher Row in Limehouse just past the
21-mile mark, Rainbow Row has been designed to celebrate the LGBTQIA+
community, promote inclusivity and create a carnival atmosphere for
participants as they pass through the final part of their marathon journey.
The 2023 TCS London Marathon
The 2022 TCS London Marathon will mark the third and final time the event
is staged in October, with the 2023 edition on Sunday 23 April seeing it
return to its traditional spring date.
The 2023 TCS London Marathon Ballot will open this Saturday (1 October) and
close seven days later at 21:00 on Friday 8 October. As another important
step towards greater inclusivity, the 2023 ballot will, for the first time,
give a non-binary gender option for entry into next year's mass event.
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