BT launches virtual Sports Day with new Digital Dash app

With schools unable to host a Sports Day this year, BT is giving children across the UK the chance to race at a virtual sports event, including the opportunity to win brand new tech equipment for their schools.

Through BT Skills for Tomorrow, BT is helping 5 million children across the UK make the most of life in the digital world. As part of this, BT has created Digital Dash: an exciting new game designed for 7-10-year-olds.

Digital Dash invites children to use digital skills to create an avatar and train it to become the best 100m sprinter in the country. A digital leaderboard will showcase the nation’s progress in the run-up to an exciting live event on 23rd July, which will bring together six finalists from across the UK and will be hosted by Olympic gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes and broadcaster, writer and director Reggie Yates.

After creating and personalising their very own avatar - for which they can choose everything from skin tone to hairstyle and outfits - players will get straight to work to get their athletes race day ready.

Focusing on both the mind and body, training includes building strength, agility and stamina, while boosting their own digital skills through a series of mini-games. From using logical reasoning to spot their athlete’s missing shoe, to learning algorithms by herding sheep in their athlete’s sleep, Digital Dash uses educational elements to help children develop the key problem-solving skills they require for the future.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT's Consumer division said: “With kids across the UK missing out on a proper Sports Day this year, keeping young minds curious and active has never been more important. We know that families are turning to technology more than ever during lockdown, and so Digital Dash has been created to help keep children entertained and educated, inspired to get active themselves, and give parents peace of mind that their children are interacting with technology safely and productively.

“We’re on a mission to ensure that people of all ages have access to digital skills that help them flourish. We hope that Digital Dash will be a fun place for children to keep learning and entertained during lockdown, alongside helping to get them fit for a digital future.”

To play Digital Dash, simply head to the BT Skills for Tomorrow website. Children can opt in to have the chance of competing in the live event, should they top the leaderboard, when downloading the app.