Nova specialises in the development, design, organisation and rights management of mass participation, televised sporting events across the UK and the globe, all based on the original formula of the Bupa Great North Run.

Founded by North East Olympic medallist Brendan Foster as a fun run for a few thousand people in 1981, the Bupa Great North Run now sits proudly as the world’s largest half-marathon and the UK’s largest mass participation sporting event.  Every year the Bupa Great North Run sees over 54,000 entrants making their way from the start line in Newcastle upon Tyne, across the famous Tyne Bridge into Gateshead, to the finish on the South Shields coast. Millions of pounds are raised for charity, with the world’s best athletes participating alongside first-time and fun runners. Covered by four hours of live BBC coverage and broadcast around the globe, the Bupa Great North Run is one of the most loved TV sporting events.

Nova has used the formula for the Bupa Great North Run to develop a programme of running events across the UK and internationally. More recently, the model has also been applied to mass participation swimming with Great Swim events now staged in several locations including Windermere, Ipswich, London Docklands and Strathclyde Park.

www.greatrun.org

www.greatswim.org