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TCS Sports Sponsorships: Blending Sports Technology and Sustainability
Highlights
- Through advanced technologies and sustainability initiatives, TCS has been leveraging its expertise to enhance marathons worldwide.
- In partnership with the NSW Department of Education, TCS invited students aged 6-17 to use design thinking and technology to develop sustainable solutions for the 2024 goIT Challenge.
- As a goIT Challenge winner, Lindfield Public School won a $10,000 prize and tickets to participate in the 2024 TCS Sydney Mini Marathon presented by ASICS.
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Sustainability in sports
Just as world-class athletes set goals and train rigorously to maximise their potential, we must set sustainability goals to responsibly produce events. With a growing number of athletes and spectators from around the country and the world participating in the TCS Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, we are committed to advancing sustainability in sports through our partnerships and collaboration with communities.
The young finalists of this year’s goIT Challenge
Leveraging our expertise
Having built one of the largest portfolios of global running events, including the four Abbott World Marathon Major races in New York, London, Chicago, and Boston, TCS has been leveraging its expertise to enhance marathons worldwide through advanced technologies and sustainability initiatives.
That’s why TCS challenged school students to use their STEM skills to create a digital innovation that will inspire change and sustain future generations of marathons.
Future minds think big
Solving real-world problems can be a catalyst for blue-sky thinking. From advancements in 4D printing that can create clothing that adapts to body temperature and environmental conditions to energy-harvesting pavements that generate power from runners, incredible innovations could transform how we approach sustainability in sports. While some of these technologies are still over a decade away, TCS is already tapping into the brightest minds of the next generation to demonstrate how technology can make sports more sustainable today.
Winning ideas for the future
In partnership with the NSW Department of Education, TCS invited students aged 6-17 to use design thinking and technology to develop sustainable solutions for our inaugural title partnership marathon. Launched on August 1, 2023, the initiative was designed to solve real-world sustainability challenges and engage the next generation in STEM career pathways through hands-on experiences.
TCS and the NSW Department of Education’s partnership has been a key factor in the success of this initiative. By making the goIT Challenge accessible to a wide range of students, the program supports the department’s mission to improve STEM education and make enrichment programs available to all. The hands-on nature of goIT projects is a proven way to address Australia’s digital skills gap and unlock future career pathways while generating innovative ideas for sustainability in sport.
Meet the finalists, and the winning team
While Lindfield Public School took home the grand prize, Tarrawanna Public School, another finalist team, impressed judges with their innovative ideas. Located in Dharawal Country between the Illawarra escarpment and the sea, Tarrawanna’s students showcased their school’s strong focus on inquiry learning and problem-solving with a sustainability-focused project. Both finalist teams were celebrated for their efforts, receiving marathon tickets and recognition on the main stage.
The challenge culminated on September 14th at the TCS Sydney Running Show, where the winning team from Lindfield Public School was crowned. The young innovators, all year 5 students, wowed judges with their invention, the “Cleanofier”. It’s a solar-powered robotic vacuum that uses AI to sort and categorise discarded items at events. Their futuristic vision of a cleaner, more sustainable marathon earned them a $10,000 prize and tickets to participate in the 2024 TCS Sydney Mini Marathon presented by ASICS.
As TCS continues to collaborate with schools and students, we are helping to inspire the next wave of tech innovators. By introducing young minds to real-world problems and giving them the tools to solve them, initiatives like goIT are laying the foundation for a future where sustainability and innovation go hand in hand.
The future of sport, much like the future of technology, relies on constant innovation. Whether it’s through energy-harvesting pavements or AI-powered robotics like the "Cleanofier," the young finalists in this year’s goIT Challenge show us that a more sustainable marathon isn’t just possible—it’s already on the horizon.