It’s become an expectation of race participants that they will receive a branded race bib. Whether participating in a charity fun run or an Olympic qualifying event, participants want to feel important and part of a well-organised, professional event. 

But as well as looking professional, race bibs also play an essential part in the success of an event. If you’re wondering how event bibs can help your event, read on to find out more. 

Race bib collection points

In most sports events, racers collect their race bibs in advance of the race itself – either the day before or earlier on the race day. This step is an important contact point between the event organiser and the event participant. Having this final check-in point allows you to confirm that all your participants have arrived, are present and fit for the event. 

It also allows you to communicate additional information to your event attendees. For example, if you are expecting extreme weather, you can make sure racers are aware of this and have any essential information they need to participate safely.

Race bibs for event organisation 

Regarding the starting line, event bibs can help you organise different categories of racers. There are often staggered start times when we look at large-scale marathons or children’s races. You might have professional racers starting 5 minutes ahead of the crowd. Or different age groups of children starting in separate waves. 

Providing differently coded bibs allows your organisers to ensure the right people are in the right group. A simple way to do this is with colour coding, which is visible and easily identifiable for both organisers and participants. 

Race bibs with timing chips

Historically, before race bibs, participants often had a race number, perhaps drawn on their arms or legs. The whole point is that event organisers can track and time race participants. However, as events became more sophisticated and technology moved on, race bibs became more commonplace. 

One of the most significant technological improvements is the inclusion of electronic timing chips within race bibs. These electronic chips are lightweight and comfortable when included in race bibs. They allow highly accurate timing for racers in real-time. This means that event organisers and also your event supporters can track participants in real-time. 

The electronic chips also keep your racers honest! For example, if there is a complex route or trail to follow, you can track your participants via the event chips to ensure they have stuck to the correct course. 

Race bibs elevate the importance of your event

When racers receive their participation bibs, the event seems more legitimate. It creates a sense of belonging and a community amongst entrants. You will often see participants wearing the bibs before the event, able to identify one another because of their bibs. Of course, having these participants circling the broader area of your event also raises the local community’s awareness of the event itself. You have effectively turned your runners or cyclists into walking adverts for your event. 

Once an event is finished, these race bibs often become a souvenir or badge of achievement. Participants will often frame their race bib or display it alongside a participation medal. If you can create a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing race bib, you can increase the life span of your race bib far past the event itself. 

Race bibs for comfort & security

Race bibs made from materials like Tyvek are incredibly lightweight and comfortable for the user to wear. Comfort is essential for your racers when preparing to push their bodies physically. Race bibs are easily fixed to a participant’s clothing, stay still, and do not bounce around when the race begins. 

The lightweight Tyvek material is also highly durable, again essential when participants might be running in poor weather conditions or swimming in a triathlon. You can find out more about the race bib material Tyvek here. 

The race bib also provides reassurance to the participant and adds an extra security level for the racer. Bibs contain the racer’s details, emergency contact information, and so on. All of this can be essential in an emergency.

Race bibs provide promotional opportunities

Building on this idea of your race bibs promoting your event. The bibs are also an essential space for your event sponsors and partners to communicate their support of your event. If you can tell your potential event sponsors that you will have 100 – or 10,000 participants, all wearing bibs with their branding and logos included, this is an essential sales tool for your event. 

Ways we can help

At The Race Bib Co. we regularly work with organisers planning sporting events of all sizes. We are always happy to assist in anyway we can. Get in touch today by emailing hello@theracebibco.com.au 

You can find out more about our company here.