Sport and races
Sound and PA systems for sports events
Fun runs, triathlons, tournaments and trophy presentations. Here, sound is information: the start, safety announcements, the names of finishers and the podium.
- Points
- Start, finish, refreshment station and podium
- Run time
- Battery-powered equipment or generator
- Duration
- Full day
- Area
- Seville city and province
A race day
From bib collection to the podium
A fun run starts sounding two hours before the start and doesn't stop until the last trophy is handed out. The equipment has to be set up before dawn and hold out all morning in the sun.
Before the start
Bib collection, warm-up and announcements. At this stage the PA is an organisational tool: where everything is, what time the bag drop closes, when to get into the start pen. With people spread across a square, one speaker won't reach everyone: you need several PA points aimed at the areas where the crowd gathers.
The start
The moment with the most people packed together and the most noise. The countdown and safety instructions must be heard above everything, and the music has to kick in at exactly the right instant. The announcer needs a wireless microphone to move around the start arch without being tied to a cable.
The course
In urban races, sound points are usually set up along the route: refreshment stations, turnaround points and spectator areas. These points have no power supply, so we use battery-powered stand-alone systems that last all morning. Each point goes where the runner needs it, not where it's convenient to run cables.
The finish
This is where the feel of the race is won or lost. The announcer calls out the names of runners as they come in, so the PA has to be intelligible with spectators cheering a metre away. It is placed near the arch, aimed at the runners and the barrier, never backwards.
The podium
Trophy presentation with names, categories and often dignitaries. It switches to the format of an official event: a clear microphone, low background music and a set order of speakers.
What to plan for
Power, timings and weather
Power autonomy along the whole route
Apart from the finish, there's hardly ever a socket. We plan battery-powered equipment with charged spare batteries, because a long race outlasts a single battery.
Pre-dawn set-up
Races start early and road closures run to a timetable. We set up before sunrise and coordinate vehicle access with the Local Police.
Sun, heat and dust
Five hours of equipment in the June sun takes its toll. We find shade, protect the electronics and keep gear off bare albero (compacted sand) ground.
Rain and humidity
At winter races the equipment is covered from set-up onwards. Wet gear doesn't dry out halfway through the race.
Permits and road occupation
The paperwork is the organiser's responsibility, but it affects the set-up: read permits for events on public streets.
A contact person on call
With points spread over several kilometres, you need someone with a phone who can get there if a unit fails.
Other sports formats
It's not all races
Tournaments and indoor sports-hall competitions. Tricky acoustics with lots of echo. We tackle it with a distributed PA at moderate level, plus a scoreboard or LED screen if results need to be displayed.
Track or field events. A scattered audience and no infrastructure. Stand-alone sound points and a central control at the finish line or the timing tower.
Team presentations and sports galas. These are closer to a corporate event: stage, projection, microphones and music.
Events with grandstands and seated spectators. If a spectator area is needed, we add grandstands and crowd barriers; for the podium or the VIP area, a stage platform.
How many sound points do you need?
Send us the course map and the race times, and we'll tell you how many units you need and with what battery life.
Frequently asked questions
Questions from clubs and organisers
How do you provide sound along a course with no sockets?
With battery-powered units placed where they're needed, plus spare batteries to cover the whole morning. At the start and finish we use mains power if available; if not, a generator.
Do you provide an announcer, or just the equipment?
We rent out and set up the equipment. The announcer is usually provided by the organisers or the club, and we leave them a wireless microphone, music control and the alert signal ready to go.
What time do you set up if the start is at nine?
We set up before sunrise, in coordination with the road closure. It's standard practice for urban races and is built into the planning, not a last-minute extra.
What happens if it rains during the race?
The equipment is protected from set-up onwards: covers, raised off the ground and placed under shelter wherever possible. A race isn't called off for rain, so the gear has to be ready for it from the start.
Can you also provide sound for the trophy presentation?
Yes, and it's usually the same finish-line set-up turned towards the podium, with a microphone for the dignitaries and background music.
Quote
Get a quote for your sports event
Date, town, type of event, number of participants and the points along the course where you need sound.
How it looks
Set-ups for this type of event
Examples of the equipment and set-up an event like yours usually needs.
