LA JOLLA, Calif. - October 13, 2003 - Carrying personal identification and medical details just got easier for participants in this year's Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Kona participants will be the first to test out ActiveWallet, a new technology from The Active Network that replaces the traditional Ironman vinyl wrist bands previously worn by participants. World Triathlon Corporation, owner of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship and the Ironman Triathlon trademark, will be the first to use the technology for its Kona participants on October 18.
With the potential to transform data and race management for participatory sports, ActiveWallet relies on a tiny, flat radio frequency chip embedded in a vinyl wrist band that uses customized software to store and transfer data. Unlike bar code or chip timing technology, ActiveWallet can be read through clothing, underwater and around the body.
"With ActiveWallet, Kona participants now have an easy way to store and carry their personal information. It's also an effective way to be recognized by race officials and other athletes during the days leading up to the race," explained Dave Alberga, chief executive officer, The Active Network. "The band is loaded with the athletes' names, bib numbers, medical details and emergency contacts, and they're set. It's one less thing to worry about during race week."
During event check in, pre-loaded bands will be ready with each athlete's personal and medical information.
ActiveWallet features and benefits include:
- One time use, light vinyl wrist band that stores programmable data, including personal identification, medical history, bib number, emergency contact information and Official Finisher designations.
- Wrist bands are integrated into race's photography system for quick identification of athletes.
- Race official and emergency personnel have instant access to athlete personal and medical data throughout the race. Data can be changed throughout the course of the event and entered on the bands, including ?race finisher' designations when athletes complete the race.
According to Alberga, future applications will include the ability to store cash and allow debits to be recorded from individual bands when athletes make onsite purchases at events. The company plans to roll ActiveWallet out for a broad range of endurance events, team sports and recreational activities. For more information, athletes can visit www.active.com/triathlon.
About The Active Network
The Active Network, Inc. specializes in participatory sports and recreation by providing data, transaction processing and marketing services to organizers and their participants. Through a network of online and offline properties including Active.com (www.active.com), eteamz.com (www.eteamz.com), RecWare (www.recware.com) and The Active Sports Marketing Group, the La Jolla, Calif.- based company boasts the nation's most popular resource for active lifestyle consumers, while streamlining administration and Internet transactions for thousands of sports organizers. The Active Network's reach extends to millions of sports and fitness enthusiasts across endurance sports, team sports and park and recreation activities. For more information, visit www.theactivenetwork.com or call (888) 543-7223.
About World Triathlon Corporation
World Triathlon Corp. is owner of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship and the Ironman Triathlon trademark, which it licenses to 14 other triathlons in Europe, North America, the Pacific Rim and Africa. The company is based in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The Ironman championship is the year's key event for triathletes, comprised of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile bike race and 26.2 mile run. Competitors have 17 hours to finish the race, with cutoff times applied to each segment of the race. The race is based in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and includes nearly 1,500 competitors, ages 18 to 80, from 50 countries, including the United States.