Launching a 360-degree virtual reality running track for the first time

With the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, many localities across the country had to implement distance orders according to Directive 16 of the Government. The practice of outdoor sports is strongly influenced, especially for those who love running. In that context, the organizers of VnExpress Marathon decided to organize a race on a digital platform, the first digitized competition experience in Vietnam called VnExpress Marathon Competition (VMC).

VMC offers runners across the country the opportunity to participate in a team competition, experiencing a 360-degree running track through augmented reality technology. The tournament promises to bring a new experience to the runners themselves, and at the same time improve the spirit of health training, the sense of sports practice regardless of external conditions.

The race uses Virtual Reality technology – Augmented Reality pioneers the application of the unreal engine in design and programming, making the maximum difference in image quality. The runner’s experience of VnExpress Marathon Competition will become real and exciting.

VMC is expected to organize in the form of group competition, the first phase is expected to have the participation of representatives from 16 clubs and running groups in Hanoi. The organizers will draw a draw and divide it into 4 groups. Each team consists of 2 representatives (one male and one female). Team performance is calculated as the average time of male and female runners. The 2 best performing clubs in each group will advance to the semi-finals. The semi-finals took place with 2 pairs of matches to select 4 teams to compete in the final.

Athletes representing the clubs will wear VR glasses and compete on a running device that is synchronized with virtual reality technology. The space on the track is designed like a real race track with the appearance of POSMs, cheerleaders…

In particular, as the first virtual race in the VnExpress Marathon system, VMC brings an experience like a real race when a part of the competition is held in an open format, but there is an interweaving interaction between experts, relatives, teammates, stage performance… It is expected that VMC will officially start at the end of August 2021 and broadcast with a density of 2 episodes per week.

Pham An