This is our fifth column from the Atlos meeting that took place last Thursday, 2024. on September 26. Olivia Miller was our summer intern for the 2024 Olympic Trials RunBlogRun. He also did a daily remote column during the Paris Olympics. Now that he’s back on campus, we’ve asked him to provide us with a column for highlights. You’ll enjoy his perspective on the Atlos encounter.
Five observations from Atlas, by Olivia Miller
September 26th marked the inaugural Athlos All Women’s Race. Founded by entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and backed by her venture capital firm 776, this groundbreaking event aimed to revolutionize the landscape of women’s racing.
Athlos brought together 36 elite female athletes from different countries to compete in six track events. The 5,000-capacity stadium witnessed competitions in the 100m, 100m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m races.
Introduction to Athletics
While viewers who often watch athletics may find some aspects of the broadcast rudimentary, it opened up the sport to a whole new audience.
Since Atlas is in its formative days, it only has six events, all of which are passenger. While this may be frustrating to some, it offers a simplified look at the track for those new to the sport. Intermissions between races gave viewers a more in-depth look at each individual event. These segments featured profiles of the athletes, allowing the audience to become more familiar with the competitors and their backgrounds.
Big names were also part of the effort to attract new people. The broadcast included interviews with celebrities such as screenwriter, producer Shonda Rhimes and rapper Flower Flav. Private attendees even got to see rapper Megan T Stallion perform.
A closer look
Atlas showed us a new side of the track. One that was much more personal.
Coronation ceremonies and athlete interviews revealed a side the public doesn’t often see. Everything was in the moment. Nothing was polished. Live interviews, especially right after a race, are kind of raw.
Atlas capitalized on 20-minute breaks between races. they featured profiles of selected athletes. These segments offered viewers a glimpse into the contestants’ lives, chronicling their journeys and acknowledging their triumphs and tribulations.
Focus on equal pay
The emphasis was on the prize money of this match, as it should be, it was a record. Prize money was $110,000 per race, with the winner receiving $60,000, double the $30,000 eventual winner’s prize in the 2024 Diamond League. In addition, 10% of ticket sales, commercial sponsorship and broadcast revenue is redistributed to all competing athletes.
And it wasn’t just track and field. The broadcast was hosted by two-time FIFA World Cup winner Ashlyn Harris, a plaintiff in the USWNT’s equal pay lawsuit. She emphasized the importance of partnerships and judicious investment to elevate all women’s sports.
Raising female voices
The broadcast featured many women providing expert commentary. Reporter Kari Champion was hosted from behind a sleek black desk, covering the race and interviewing sports figures and celebrities.
Lara Overton joined Champion to provide analytical insights on the events. Author and coach Robin Arzon was on the track interviewing the athletes during the coronation ceremony.
The broadcast was almost exclusively female, with the exception of NBC’s Paul Swangard, who was on commentary along with 2012 Olympic champion Sania Richards-Ross.
This is a rare phenomenon even in women’s sports.
View:
Tiffany crowns, pop songs, lightning bolts. we see aspects of other sports sprinkled into athletics like never before. The showmanship was reminiscent of American sports such as Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn even treated us to a victory dance at her coronation ceremony. Atlos has created an environment where female athletes are encouraged to celebrate their achievements.
Few, if any, women’s sports have attempted anything like this.
As Ashley Harris said, “Atlos is giving women’s sports the hype they deserve.”
Indeed, it did.
