United News of Bangladesh

Visually impaired runners are using AI-powered smart glasses to take part in the London Marathon, helping them navigate routes and track progress more independently. Tilly Dowler, who has Stargardt disease and only about 10 percent useful vision, is preparing to run the marathon after starting her running journey just last year. Training near Buckingham Palace, she is using AI-enabled smart glasses to assist her while running alongside her boyfriend, who acts as her guide. “They are AI-assisted,” she said. “While running, I can ask for live cues, such as what landmarks are around me and how far I have run.” The glasses provide audio feedback, allowing her to listen to instructions while still hearing her guide and music. Dowler said her goal is not about speed but to inspire others facing vision loss and difficult challenges. “I want to show people they can believe in themselves,” she said. She is among a growing number of runners using such technology. These smart glasses combine cameras, microphones and open-ear speakers, using artificial intelligence to understand surroundings and deliver real-time audio guidance. One of the most widely used versions comes from Meta, developed in partnership with brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley. The devices have become increasingly popular, though they have also raised privacy concerns, including fears of recording people without their knowledge. Another runner, Sha Khan, who lost about 90 percent of his vision due to retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease, said the glasses have become essential in his daily life. “It’s like a part of me now,” he said. Khan also uses a guide dog provided by Guide Dogs UK and says the hands-free nature of the glasses allows him to stay focused without handling a phone. He began running in 2022 after being encouraged by the charity, following the impact of vision loss on his mental health. The glasses use a front-facing camera to capture images, which AI then processes into spoken information for the user. This helps runners understand their surroundings without losing awareness. Technology analyst Chris Lewis said such devices add an extra layer of awareness by identifying objects and movement in real time. However, he warned that large events like marathons can create challenges, such as weak mobile signals due to heavy network use, which may affect performance. Experts also stress that the technology should support, not replace, existing tools like guide dogs and mobility training. “These glasses can enhance independence, but they are not a replacement for essential skills,” said Tommy Dean of Guide Dogs UK. Analyst Ben Hatton said reliability remains a major concern. “If the technology is to be used for navigating busy streets, it must work perfectly every time,” he said. Despite limitations, experts say advances in AI are making everyday technology more accessible for people with disabilities. More than 59,000 runners are expected to join this year’s London Marathon, covering the 26.2-mile route from Greenwich to near Buckingham Palace.

Two male runners have been disqualified after they were found to have competed in the women’s category of the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, officials said. The men ran using race bibs registered to two female athletes and finished among the top 10 in the women’s half-marathon, initially taking positions that should have gone to female competitors. The issue was detected by a race official, leading to the disqualification of the men from their 7th and 10th place finishes. The two rightful female runners were later awarded those positions. Race board member Stuart Mann said Larissa Parekh allegedly allowed Luke Jacobs to run using her bib, while Tegan Garvey is accused of giving hers to Nic Bradfield. All four individuals could face disciplinary action, including a possible two-year ban from the event. The Two Oceans Marathon is one of South Africa’s most well-known races, featuring both a 56-kilometre ultramarathon and a 21.1-kilometre half-marathon, and attracts more than 16,000 participants each year. Finishing in the top 10 is considered a major achievement. Mann described the practice of swapping bibs as unethical and potentially dangerous, noting that it could create serious medical risks in emergencies if runners are misidentified. He said runners sometimes give their bibs to others due to last-minute injuries or personal reasons, while others do it to gain unfair advantages, such as achieving faster times to qualify for future races. The incident came to light after photos shared on social media showed Jacobs wearing a bib with Parekh’s name, raising suspicion. Jacobs later issued a written apology, admitting it was a mistake and saying he did not consider the consequences. Garvey also acknowledged giving her bib to Bradfield, saying she was unable to run due to a hip injury. Both women have apologised, according to officials.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Vice-President Shahidullah Azim has said the country's apparel industry has become front-runners in the marathon of sustainability, "a core area of concern in the global business landscape." "Bangladesh has the highest number of green factories in the world, with 168 LEED Green factories certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), 50 of which are rated Platinum, with 550 more factories in the pipeline. Moreover, 40 out of the top 100 industrial projects in the world are in Bangladesh," he added. Read: Certificates awarded for 61st BAF Flying Instructors’ Course "A major demographic of the global consumer is now concerned about sustainable consumption and production, especially the environmental footprint of the product they buy. The BGMEA has proactively taken the issue of sustainability to the core of its strategic vision."

Two Japanese marathon runners have tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the race at the world championships. World Athletics announced Saturday that two of the country's six athletes entered in the marathon tested positive along with the head coach and four members of the support staff. All will have to be isolated for five days, a period that will run through the men's race Sunday and the women's race Monday. The federation did not say which of the six Japanese runners entered in the marathons had tested positive. Gaku Hoshi, Yusuke Nishiyama and Kengo Suzuki are entered in the men's race and Mao Ichiyama, Mizuki Matsuda and Hitomi Niiya are entered in the women's. Read: Athlete dies completing marathon in Chattogram Athletes had to be fully vaccinated to be participate at the worlds. Organizers are recommending, but not requiring, masks to be worn in indoor areas during the championships.

When amputee athlete Jacky Hunt-Broersma says her mantra is, “I can do hard things,” she’s not kidding — the amputee athlete has run 104 marathons in as many days, all using a carbon-fiber prosthesis. Hunt-Broersma, 46, completed that epic quest on Saturday near her home in suburban Phoenix, setting an unofficial world record along the way. “What a journey,” she tweeted. The South Africa native, who lost her left leg below the knee to a rare cancer, gained worldwide attention and a huge social media following after beginning her record attempt on Jan. 17. Brick Runners, an organization that supports athletes who raise money for charities, even designed a Jacky-inspired Lego-style character complete with one of her favorite T-shirts, which reads: “Strong Has Many Forms.” Also Read: Tips to keep home cool in summer without AC Hunt-Broersma also raised more than $67,000 to help fellow amputee blade runners get the expensive prostheses they need. Health insurance typically doesn’t cover the cost, which can exceed $10,000. Every day since mid-January, she covered the classic 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) marathon distance either on a loop course laid out near her home in Gilbert, Arizona, or on a treadmill indoors. Her original goal was to run 100 marathons in 100 days so she’d beat a record of 95 set in 2020 by Alyssa Amos Clark, a nondisabled runner from Bennington, Vermont, who did it as a pandemic coping strategy. But last month, after nondisabled British runner Kate Jayden unofficially broke Clark’s record with 101 marathons in 101 days, Hunt-Broersma realized she’d need to run at least 102. In an interview with The Associated Press, she said she hoped her quest would inspire people everywhere to push themselves regardless of their physical limitations. Guinness World Records spokesperson Amanda Marcus said the Britain-based organization was aware of Hunt-Broersma’s attempt, and that it would take 12 to 15 weeks to review the evidence before the record can be confirmed. Guinness lists the men’s record for consecutive daily marathons as 59, set in 2019 by Enzo Caporaso of Italy. Also Read: Newborn baby, infant care tips during summer  

An athlete in Chattogram died soon after completing a 21.1 km half marathon race in Chattogram’s Patenga sea beach. The deceased was identified as Jamil Hossain, 45, son of Moazzem Hossain of Nawabpara area of Patuakhali. Read:Bomb blast at Ctg traffic police box: JMB leader Selim held The incident occurred at 9 am on Friday (January 6) after the Chattogram City Half Marathon at the sea beach. Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Patenga Police Station said, Jamil fell ill at the finishing point of the marathon. He was given first aid at the Navy Hospital from where he was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. There the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

Bangladesh Army is organising the first-ever international marathon in the country to mark Bangabandhu’s birth centenary.

The first-ever virtual marathon is scheduled to take place at the beginning of next month in Boston, Massachusetts.

Joyciline Jepkosgei arrived in New York with a modest goal for her first marathon ever.

Tokyo, Oct 16 (AP/UNB) — The International Olympic Committee wants to move the Tokyo Games marathons 800 kilometers (500 miles) north to avoid the searing heat in the city.