For its 2010 outing, the Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) sees sponsor FLIR Systems returning for the third year to support the race by providing the same electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) systems that are fielded by the US Marines and currently in use in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 35th Marine Corps Marathon will be held on Sunday 31 October 2010, in Arlington, Virginia.
"In addition to providing support for The People’s Marathon, FLIR Systems is also excited to give the folks at the race, and the fans at home, a better idea of the extraordinary measures the USMC is taking to keep our Marines safe in a hostile environment," said William Sundermeier, President of FLIR Government Systems.
A number of sensors will be located throughout the course in order to provide MCM officials, as well as representatives from seven supporting law enforcement agencies with the ability to see the course throughout the duration of the 26.2 mile event.
Officials will be able to view the majority of the course on monitors located in a central command station that will be receiving a downlink feed from the various sensors. These sensors, mounted on positions around the city provide MCM organisers and local, state and federal authorities the ability to detect, identify and react to any situation in a quicker timeframe.
"The FLIR Systems sponsorship is a perfect showcase for how the Marine Corps culture embraces the marathon experience for organisers and participants," said Marc Goldman, Marine Corps Marathon Sponsorship/Marketing Manager.
FLIR will record and video stream from multiple locations on the course for online viewing by spectators in real-time including, live footage of lead runners throughout the entire race course. More than 4,500 people logged on last year to view FLIR’s live video-feed of the MCM at www.flir.com/usmc.
