When you think of Christmas gifts, what comes to mind? Maybe a plush doll that you’d cuddle with, or a lovely bottle of cologne to splash on your clothes? This is, in part, because of popular culture references, but mainly because of the sheer range of products that are associated with the festive season.
The same goes for the annual holiday bike race known as the ‘Norway Bike Ride’. It has been an event on the British sporting calendar since 1907, and it continues to grow in popularity each year. In fact, according to event organizers, over 136,000 people applied for just 12,500 places on the 2020 event schedule. This is an increase of 20% compared to the previous year.
This year, the race will take place between 23rd December and 1st January, and will cover a distance of 170 miles. The race will begin at 9.00 am in Newcastle upon Tyne, and will follow the same route as last year. The 12,500 places are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and are required to be registered and paid in advance.
For those who can’t make the journey to Newcastle for the race, be it due to work or school commitments, there are plenty of websites that provide virtual ticketing. The organizers also state that they will be looking into the possibility of streamlining the registration process for next year’s event.
Fringe Benefits
Along with the Christmas markets that adorn our streets and towns, the Fringe is often the place that smaller businesses look to for promotional activity during the year. From comedy nights with stand-up performers to lectures on world religions, the fringe provides a wealth of opportunities to reach a variety of audiences and encourage potential new clients to seek out your services.
Many companies, especially those in the creative industries, will be looking for ways to reward their fringe festival goers with special presents. From bespoke products to VIP experiences, there are plenty of ways for brands to thank those that support them during the festival period. This is also an area that can be explored for next year’s event, as organizers are likely to look for ways to make the event as attractive as possible for those in the trade.
The Impact Of Covid-19
The year 2020 was eventful, to say the least. As the world adjusted to life under new social mores and new restrictions, many leisure activities were either postponed or stopped completely. One such instance was the Norway Bike Ride. The original scheduled date for the event was 23rd December, and it was going ahead as planned, with minor modifications. The organizers asked participants to wear masks and gloves, and set up home-based safety protocols.
Organizers stated that the safety of participants and spectators was their number one priority, particularly during the later stages of the event. As a result, the starting time for the race was brought forward by two hours, and all public spaces, including the streets, had to be disinfected before the event began. In light of these new restrictions, the organizers are exploring ways to make the race more agile and safe for those taking part, as well as those who will be cheering them on.
As the world recovers from the pandemic, we will see more relaxed attitudes and more opportunities for people to socialize and get out on the bike. There are also indications that consumer interest in extreme sports has increased, due in part to the adrenaline rush that comes with participating in an activity that is both dangerous and exhilarating. This presents an opportunity to capitalize on this newfound desire and reconnect with older audiences who may have shied away from such activities because of the pandemic.
The Future Of The Event
The Norway Bike Ride is one of the most well-known and established extreme sports events in the world. For over a century, it has been a fixture on the British sporting calendar and a chance for participants to celebrate the darker elements of their nature. It is therefore fitting that it should be one of the major draws of next year’s Tokyo International Forum, the ‘most prestigious international trade show for business, property, and lifestyle exhibitions’.
The organizers of the event state that they are looking beyond the pandemic and exploring ways to make the annual bike ride even more appealing to those taking part and those who will be attending the event. They are also exploring new ways to engage with existing audiences and retain those who have helped to make the event what it is today. With global exhibitions being held in digital and remote formats, it will be interesting to see how the Norwegians adapt the event to the digital era.
In addition to the annual bike ride, the organizers of the Tokyo International Forum also hold an ice hockey tournament between international teams. The organizers are looking to expand on this and make it an even bigger part of the event. One possibility that has been discussed is the introduction of a ‘mini-Olympics’ for children. The idea is to have a number of sporting events for those aged between four and 14, with the main focus being on hockey, as it is an established activity in Japan and the country has a very talented amateur hockey player base. The organizers are also exploring the use of augmented reality and virtual reality, as well as the possibility of livestreaming the event.
To celebrate its centenary in 2012, the Norway Bike Ride ran a series of events, including a vintage bike festival, comedy nights, jazz concerts, and a food festival. These were all enjoyed by participants and spectators alike.
What will be interesting to see is how the Norway Bike Ride evolves over the next decade. Not only has the event remained extremely popular throughout the years, but it also continues to grow in stature each year. The British Museum has a dinosaur collection that is among the best in the world. It is time to see if this is true for the ‘Norway Bike Ride’. This is an event that has stood the test of time, and it continues to grow in popularity each year.