Abstract
With the rise of digital sports, traditional athletics events are exploring new development paths. World Athletics plans to introduce the World Treadmill Championships, leveraging smart fitness equipment and networked technology to enable global running enthusiasts to participate in high-level competitions without geographical constraints. However, ensuring fairness and professionalism in the competition makes the standardization of treadmill equipment a critical issue. This article discusses the technical standards and challenges of treadmills in competitive events from the perspectives of safety, accuracy, durability, scenario simulation, data collection and connectivity, as well as related smart technologies. It also explores the future development trends of the World Treadmill Championships.
Author: Roger Yao February 5, 2025, Taicang, China
I. The Rise of Digital Sports and Virtual Competitions
1. Overview of Digital Sports
Digital sports, a product of the integration of digital technology and traditional sports, utilize IT, communications, the Internet, digital media, and virtual reality (VR) to provide new forms of sports competitions and fitness experiences. From boxing and rowing to marathons, almost all sports can be reshaped through digital means. Against this backdrop, virtual sports competitions have become a focal point in the industry.
2. Development of International Digital Sports Competition
In recent years, several international sports organizations have actively promoted virtual sports competitions. For example:
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) hosted the first Olympic Virtual Series in 2021, covering cycling, motorsports, baseball, sailing, and rowing.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) launched the Cycling Esports World Championships in 2020, initially using the Zwift platform and later transitioning to MyWhoosh in 2024.
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has organized the World Indoor Rowing Championships since 2018, using Concept2 rowing machines.
China's National Electronic Sports Tournament (NEST) included virtual cycling as part of its 2023 event held in Jinjiang, Fujian.
II. The World Treadmill Championships
These successful events have driven the digital transformation of sports and provided valuable insights for World Athletics in launching the World Treadmill Championships.
Compared to rowing and cycling, running has a broader participant base and is one of the most popular sports worldwide. In marathon events alone, over a million people participate annually, while China hosting 699 marathon races in 2023. The global number of running enthusiasts is estimated to exceed 600 million.
“We are looking to create a digital competition for athletics,” said an official from World Athletics. “When you consider that athletics is the most widely practiced sport in the world, we should have our own digital sports competition. World Athletics is considering hosting the World Treadmill Championships as a new initiative.”
In 2024, World Athletics is reportedly partnering with a technology company to develop virtual running scenarios. Following the trends of rowing and cycling, athletics will now host a global event utilizing indoor fitness equipment, treadmill.
“There are millions of people worldwide running on treadmills at gyms or in their homes,” said World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon. “We should create new products for these individuals. We should host the World Treadmill Championships. Whether you are running for 30 minutes on a treadmill or winning an Olympic 100-meter gold medal, you are an athlete, because all of these activities are part of athletics.”
III. Standardization Issues of Treadmills
As the primary equipment in digital sports competitions, the reliability and standardization of treadmills are crucial for ensuring fairness and safety.
1. Product Safety Regulations
Treadmills, whether for daily fitness or competitive use, must meet international and regional safety standards. Some key standards include:
EN 20957 (Europe): Covers safety requirements and testing methods for stationary fitness equipment, with EN 957-6 specifically addressing treadmill safety.
ASTM F2115 (USA): Specifies design and manufacturing requirements to ensure safe treadmill operation.
GB 17498 (China): Regulates mechanical safety standards for fitness equipment.
Additionally, treadmills must comply with electrical safety directives (e.g., LVD), electromagnetic compatibility regulations (e.g., CE, FCC), and environmental directives (e.g., RoHS) to ensure global market compliance.
2. Accuracy of Speed and Distance Measurement
For general fitness use, treadmills do not require extreme precision in speed and distance measurements. However, in marathon competitions, the accuracy of these metrics directly impacts race results, making them one of the most critical concerns for participants.
For example, the EN 20957 standard classifies treadmill accuracy into different levels:
Class A Precision:
Time: ±1%
Distance: ±5%
Speed: ±0.1 km/h (≤2 km/h); ±5% (>2 km/h)
Incline (if applicable): ±10%
Class B Precision:
Time: ±1%
Distance: ±10%
Speed: ±0.2 km/h (≤2 km/h); ±10% (>2 km/h)
Incline (if applicable): ±15%
For official competitions, even the 5% error margin of Class A treadmills is too much. Ideally, accuracy should be within 0.1%, and it may requires additional monitoring devices to measure actual belt speed and distance directly.
3. Durability and Performance Requirements
Competition-grade treadmills must be highly durable and capable of handling prolonged, high-intensity use. Key requirements include:
Continuous Operation: Motors must provide consistent power for long durations (3–6 hours).
Maximum Speed: Treadmills should support speeds of at least 20 km/h for competitive use.
Weight Capacity: Sufficient load-bearing capacity to ensure stability and safety.
4. Running Scenario Simulation
To enhance the competitive experience, treadmills should feature:
Incline Adjustment: Simulating different terrains with preset inclines controlled by the competition software. and user is not allowed to adjsut the inclination.
Wind Resistance Simulation: Although current treadmills lack precise wind resistance simulation, future advancements could improve realism.
Running Surface Quality: The treadmill belt and deck should replicate real road conditions as closely as possible. but it is quite difficult in reality.
5. Data Collection and Connectivity
Ideally, treadmills for competition should feature TFT smart displays preloaded with the official “World Treadmill Championships App” developed in partnership with World Athletics, enabling real-time data collection and transmission. However, many existing treadmills in the market still use old LED displays, requiring external smartphone apps for connectivity.
To enable seamless integration, treadmills should have built-in Bluetooth modules for compatibility with the app, allowing real-time monitoring and automatic incline adjustments.
Additionally, virtual routes, interactive content, and gamification elements should be managed by app developers to enhance user engagement.
IV. The Future of the World Treadmill Championships
As a global competition, the World Treadmill Championships can significantly increase participation by allowing athletes (participants) to compete from gyms, sports centers, or even their homes.
While initial competitions may be restricted to authorized venues with standardized treadmills—similar to rowing and cycling esports events—future developments may enable at-home participation using connected treadmills. Apps such as KINOMAP, ZWIFT, and FITSHOW have already demonstrated the feasibility of online treadmill racing.
Link: kinomap app reaches agreement with International Olympic Committee to become an official licensee
However, official events hosted by World Athletics must address challenges related to anti-cheating measures, treadmill certification, and data privacy.
Despite these challenges, advancements in smart technology and event management will eventually overcome these barriers, making the World Treadmill Championships a significant milestone in the evolution of digital sports.
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