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Tata Consultancy replaces Scotiabank as sponsor of Toronto Waterfront Marathon – The Globe and Mail

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Lucas Bruchet, who came in second place, leads the pack of runners in the male elite category at the the start of the 2021 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon 10K event, in Toronto on Oct. 17, 2021.Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press

When the Toronto Waterfront Marathon returns in the fall for the first time in three years, runners are in for a few surprises.

On Tuesday, the marathon said that IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will replace Scotiabank as its new title sponsor through November, 2026. The partnership will give participants access to the TCS marathon app, which allows runners to race with augmented reality, share their on-course location with spectators in real time, help them calculate their environmental impact as they run and travel, and enjoy an improved virtual offering if they choose to race from home. The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is the first road race in Canada to adopt the technology, following in the footsteps of other major races such as the New York City and London marathons.

“We really want to offer our runners and spectators an enhanced digital experience,” said Charlotte Brookes, event director of Canada Running Series, the organization behind the Toronto Waterfront Marathon and several other large road races in the country.

“The [TCS] app provides an opportunity for people to feel connected to the event experience.”

Supporters will also be able to create a digital cheer card that will flash on screens as specific runners pass. In addition, the app will enable racers to track their environmental impact throughout the weekend, and offset it with a suggested donation to an environmental charity of their choice.

Virtual racers, meanwhile, will have access to many of the same features, and may also get to download an audio track that mimics sounds of the Toronto course as runners reach certain milestones. Upon completing their race, those runners will unlock a virtual medal and a usable backsplash of Toronto’s finishing area to reproduce an end-of-race photo.

“As technologies evolve, we’re adapting to the needs of the new world,” said Michelle Taylor, global head of sports sponsorships at TCS, “and hybrid racing and events is where we’re at and we do see things staying here.

“The goal is to replicate the experience of the city no matter where you are,” she added. “If someone chooses to run in the virtual race, they can do so in a way that still gives them a taste of Canada, a taste of Toronto wherever they are in the world.”

Toronto follows other major marathons in digitizing its event; a trend accelerated by the pandemic and its travel and health restrictions. The London Marathon used the TCS marathon app for the first time this year, and now gets runners to wear Restrata tags, which use GPS technology to contact trace for COVID-19. The New York City Marathon, meanwhile, offers a 3-D interactive race map that provides in-depth looks around the start area on Staten Island, highlights landmarks along the course, and shows its elevation changes.

Those features are a long way ahead of some of Canada’s early pandemic iterations of virtual races, such as comparing time trials among training partners online, 900-kilometre relay runs across Newfoundland, and countless versions of Instagram “end-of-run-selfie-tag.” But continuing lockdowns and case surges, as well as varying comfort level of racers, has made it worthwhile for races to bolster a world-class hybrid race offering.

Brookes said the appetite for virtual racing is slowing among Canada Running Series participants. She predicted only 10 per cent of the series’ registrants to race from home in 2022, down from what felt more like a 50-50 split last year. But even if the pandemic wanes, she said, the inclusion of a virtual-race option might give more people who live far away, and more people who do not want to pay the in-person fee, a chance to partake.

“I think hybrid racing is a new standard, it makes it more inclusive,” she said. “Having world-class in-person and virtual options is an added way of reaching out to the new wave of runners that the pandemic created.” New research shows that nearly 30 per cent of current runners started after the beginning of COVID-19, and Strava, a fitness-tracking app used by runners and cyclists, said its average monthly growth rate doubled throughout the pandemic.

The Toronto marathon is the first race in Canada to adopt the TCS app, but other races are not far behind in bolstering their digital offerings. Kirsten Fleming, executive director at Run Calgary, said the first few virtual races her road-racing organization offered were primitive, and operated on the honours system: runners timed themselves, took a picture of their result, and uploaded it. Now, Run Calgary uses the Runkeeper app, which facilitates registration and timing, and provides audio cues for virtual racers.

“People like to be connected digitally, that’s a must for races now,” said Fleming, who said all nine of Run Calgary’s races will be delivered in a hybrid capacity this year. “Virtual racing isn’t going anywhere.”

Still, like Brookes, Fleming expects that a majority of runners will prefer in-person races in the wake of lockdowns. A Run USA study of 4,500 runners had shown that up to 86 per cent of respondents wanted to go back to in-person racing in 2021. Quinton Jacobs, a marathon runner from Woodbridge, Ont., partook in both virtual and in-person races last year. He said that good tracking technology and virtual offerings helps to connect more people to the sport, but that nothing beats the in-person experience.

“Having an app like this one is exciting, but no matter what you do to spice up virtual races, it just can’t compare to the energy that comes with pushing yourself with someone who is struggling just as much as you are,” he said.

“I can’t wait to toe that line in Toronto in person this fall.”

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Vancouver Canucks winger Joshua set for season debut after cancer treatment

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Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.

Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.

The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.

He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.

“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.

The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.

Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.

“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”

The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

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