| As strange as it sounds, TV may have actually come up with something beneficial to society.
People of all ages apparently can relate to the challenges posed by one of TV’s non-scripted "reality" shows. And they’re getting out from in front of the boob tube and moving about cities everywhere.
With no federal dollars attached, this new trend may supplant Participaction as the national activity program. Based upon the show The Amazing Race, events are being organized in Calgary and around the country challenging people to solve clues, use maps and figure out how to get from point A to point B before anyone else.
The premise sounds simple. And it is – like most good things. It’s nothing more than an urban adventure race.
The requirements for participants are also basic – another good thing. You only need to be able to read and move about at a walking pace, ride a bike, or use public transit – depending on how a race is set up. You don’t need to be ultra-fit, or dedicate hours a day to training.
"Being reasonably fit will help," explains Tim Shore, organizer of the Navigate the Street races, which are held across Canada. "But based on last year’s race in Toronto, most participants are not the type who would run marathons, triathlons, etc. It’s physically and mentally challenging, but it’s not the sort of thing like a marathon that you need to train for. After all, if you get tired you can always take a bus, grab a snack in a café (or) sit on a bench."
The popularity of these races is already apparent in Calgary. Theatre Junction recently held a fundraising adventure race based on The Amazing Race with 150 participants. Even those who had never seen the TV show said they had more fun than they had ever imagined.
A similar race is part of the current Youthweek in Calgary and dozens of participants are expected. It takes place on Saturday, May 8, beginning at 10 a.m. at City Hall and finishing up at about 4 p.m. at Shaw Millennium Park. (For more details on this race, call 268-2868.)
Shore’s event, meanwhile, will be staged in Calgary on July 31, with the opportunity for the winning team to compete at a national final.
"Running and traditional adventure racing aren’t for everyone," says Shore. "A race like Navigate the Streets is accessible in terms of fitness level – you don’t need any special skills. It’s a fun thing to do on the weekend and it’s not just a physical activity like running, it’s also a game and a fun way to challenge your friends to see who knows the city best. I think it’s great that more than one event of this type exists. All have the power to get the fat kids off the couch, so to speak."
While there seems to be a never-ending supply of foreboding media stories warning of an overweight generation permanently affixed to televisions and computers, perhaps there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. With events taking place based on this racing-challenge show, TV seems to have finally, possibly, in a twisted sort of way, lived up to its billing as a "useful" commodity.
BURNIN’ LOVE
Speaking of TV influencing behaviour, it’s been interesting how the Flames playoff run has affected the city.
Here are a few examples: hard-core non-hockey viewers are now tuning into a few minutes of a game; 10-year-olds phone each other at 11 p.m. to talk about the overtime game – they know everyone in the house is still awake; on non-game nights, kids are lining neighbourhood streets with banners and posters showing their support for the Flames.
Say what you want about hockey, or professional sports for that matter, there’s no denying the team has grabbed the attention of most Calgarians. |
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