Acknowledging the importance of technology in the battle to raise levels of participation, Peter Fitzboydon, Chief Executive of London Sport, joined Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, in outlining a shared ambition to make London a key player in changing the way in which physical activity and sport grows participation levels in the coming years.
Speaking via video address at Participation – The Revolution will be Digital powered by ACTIVE Network, the Mayor outlined his amibition for FitTech in London and was joined by speakers including Founder of Tech London Advocates, Russ Shaw, Bauer Media Audience Development Director, Cathy Ma, Professor James Skinner, Chief Executive of the Open Data Institute, Gavin Starks, and Epsilon SVP for Client Services, Phillip Singh, in exploring the opportunities presented for sport in the digital world.
The event also saw the first recipients of the Sport Technology Innovation Fund, a £100,000 funding pot for innovative technology ideas to help make Londoners more physically active, including a £50,000 contribution from the Mayor of London’s Sports Legacy Programme, the Sport Technology Innovation Fund, announced.
The first five award recipients, each receiving up to £10,000 in funding, were revealed as:
- Sweatcoin – a virtual currency that uses an app to reward people for being active
- PhysBT – a platform that helps users to exercise in a way that directly helps mental health
- Follow the Light – an LED light system put around running tracks/circuis that acts as a pace setter
- Racefully – a smartphone and wearables app that helps people stay motivated and keep fit with friends from around the world, wherever and whenever they want
- Exciting Engineering – generating electricity through cycling and putting it back into the grid (and cutting people’s bills)
Participation – The Revolution will be Digital powered by ACTIVE Network was held at London’s Science Museum, and brought together key strategic figures from the sport sector, technology thought leaders, policy makers and experts in the power of data in driving data change, to coalesce support behind sector-wide engagement between physical activity, sport and technology.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said:
“Fit tech uses technology of all kinds to help people take exercise, reduce obesity and improve their cardiovascular condition. It is a fantastic aim and the capital’s creative innovators have a real opportunity to lead the way in making London a more active city.”
Peter Fitzboydon, Chief Executive of London Sport, said:
“Making London the world’s most physically active city is an ambition within our reach, but we will only grasp this opportunity if physical activity and sport take a lead in working with tech and data.
“The recipients of the Sport Technology Innovation Fund have all demonstrated a vision for the future of technology and sport, and we want to foster this vision for the benefit of London as a whole.”
Gavin Starks, Chief Executive of the Open Data Institute, said:
“The Sport Technology Innovation Fund shows a great commitment to convene expertise in sport, tech and data – the fuel of open innovation. We are excited to see how data can be made relevant and actionable to help people improve their wellbeing, enable innovators to build new products and services, and stimulate cross-sector collaborations and knowledge-sharing for the benefit of all.”
