Galileo gives major backing to SuperHalfs Series
The European GNSS Agency
(GSA) and SuperHalfs are delighted to announce that Galileo – the European
Union’s global navigation satellite system – has thrown its support behind the
international half marathon series as the new Presenting Partner.
Galileo is Europe’s independent, civilian and free system behind the location
services that billions use every day in smartphones, cars, planes, fitness
trackers and various other devices.
The Galileo constellation is the result of unprecedented cooperation and innovation
between European Member States, industries, SMEs and user communities. Through
SuperHalfs, a similar innovative and collaborative partnership has begun
between the European cities of Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Cardiff and Valencia
as thousands of SuperHalfs runners plot their journey across the continent.
SuperHalfs will welcome a new wave of international participants and a global
television audience when the series kicks off in Lisbon next month. Prague
hosts the second leg before it heads to Copenhagen, across the North Sea to
Cardiff and finishes up in the warm climes of Valencia in October.
Carlo Capalbo, SuperHalfs Founding Member commented: “One of the core values of
SuperHalfs is to open up new horizons to runners, just as Europe is doing by
providing timing and positioning services through Galileo, Europe’s civilian
Global Navigation Satellite System.”
The appetite for the SuperHalfs series has exceeded all expectations, with
three of the five events already sold out and the other two very close, after
an influx of international participants chasing SuperRunner status.
Runners from around the world have created a virtual passport and started
planning their journey ahead of the first race in Lisbon on 22 March. Many will
be using Galileo-enabled devices as they plan their participation, using
mapping apps or tracking their progress in training with a location-based
fitness tracker.
“The SuperHalfs series gathers people who already understand the importance of
accurate positioning and timing in monitoring sports performance, and to whom
we want to pass the message that this accuracy is also being provided by
Galileo, Europe’s global navigation satellite system, and is already available
in their watches, smartphones or wearables. We are looking forward to seeing
SuperHalfs runners run, and win, with Galileo,” said Pascal Claudel, Acting
Executive Officer of the European GNSS Agency.
While general entries to the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon, Sportisimo Prague Half
Marathon and Cardiff University Cardiff Half Marathon have sold-out, runners
can still secure a place through the events’ charity partners.
