Organizing a sports event? Then you know how hectic the days and hours before the start can be. Participants calling because they cannot find the parking area. Volunteers unsure where they need to be. Spectators asking where they can watch best. An interactive map solves that. Not as a nice-to-have, but as a practical tool that directly saves time and energy for your organization.
Why an interactive map works
Most of the questions that come in around a sports event are about orientation: where do I need to be, how do I get there, what is the route? A good interactive map answers those questions before they are even asked.
Participants can check the map in advance to prepare. During the event they use it on-site, with their own location visible. That creates calm. For them, and for you.
Another advantage: if something changes during the event, you can update the map right away. Everyone sees the change immediately, without needing extra messages.
Johan Meijer - Marathon Groningen (Golazo)
The interactive map resulted in significantly fewer questions and much more understanding for detours and road closures. For us, that is incredibly valuable.
One event, multiple maps
For larger sports events, it makes sense to create separate maps for each audience. Participants want to see routes, start areas, and aid stations. Spectators are looking for parking, food and drinks, and the best viewing points. Volunteers need different information than local residents who want to know which roads are closed.
By creating a dedicated map for each audience, every map stays clear and relevant.
This works best when everything comes together in one place. Below you can see what that looks like for Marathon Groningen.
How to make a good map, step by step
1. Start with branding and context
Add your logo, a header image, and a short description, including a link to your event website. That way participants immediately recognize the map as part of your event. You can also connect a custom domain, such as map.yourmarathon.com.
2. Set up categories in a practical way
Put your routes or distances at the top, because that is what participants look for first. Less urgent information, such as aid stations, toilets, or food and drinks, can go into subcategories. For a residents’ map, the focus is more likely to be on road closures, detours, and accessibility.
3. Enable the location feature
Set the map to ask visitors to share their location as soon as they open it. That way they can orient themselves immediately when they arrive.
4. Add routes via GPX or draw them manually
You can upload routes as a GPX file or draw them manually. Both work well. Changes are quick to make, even at the last minute. Want to know more? Take a look at our support page about drawing and editing routes.
5. Draw areas for special zones
Think of start areas, finish zones, or restricted access areas. Drawing an area makes it immediately clear where participants are and are not allowed to go.
Start area
6. Connect aid stations to the right route
Do you have a category called Half Marathon and separate aid stations? Add those aid stations to the Half Marathon category as well. That way a participant sees everything related to their distance in a single click.
7. Use small pins for less important locations
Not every pin needs to stand out equally on the map. With the small pin setting, you guide attention to what matters most without removing useful information.
8. Share the map through multiple channels
Embed the map on your event website, use QR codes on flags or signs at the venue, and share it through social media. The earlier participants know the map, the better prepared they are.
If you want to place the map on your website, also read how to embed a map.
After the event: insights into usage
Afterwards, you can see how many people used the map, which locations were viewed most, and where people were located through a heatmap. Useful for your own evaluation and for reporting to sponsors. All GDPR-proof.
Is your sports event annual? Then your map will simply be ready again next year. You can update it yourself where needed, without starting from scratch.
Organizations behind major running events such as Marathon Rotterdam and Marathon Eindhoven already work this way. An interactive map is not only a helpful tool for participants, but also a way to present your organization as more professional and accessible.
Want to talk through the best setup for your sports event? Feel free to schedule a demo.
Johan Meijer - Marathon Groningen (Golazo)
