Split Flap Race Scoreboard for KOREA 50K 10th Anniversary

A personalized mechanical split flap race result display for the KOREA 50K finish-line experience

For the 10th anniversary of KOREA 50K, TS Display supplied a customized split flap display designed as an interactive race result board.

After completing the race, participants could tap or scan their race card at the result station. The event system identified the runner, retrieved their individual race information, and displayed their race category, participant number and finishing time on the split flap display.

The result was more than a conventional scoreboard. It became part of the finish-line experience, combining race data, mechanical movement and a memorable photo moment for each participant.

Project Overview

KOREA 50K wanted to create a more engaging way for participants to view and celebrate their race results during its 10th anniversary event.

Instead of using only a conventional digital result screen, the project incorporated a mechanical split flap display into the post-race experience.

TS Display produced a 3 × 8 split flap scoreboard using 24 modules, each measuring 20 × 15 cm.

The display was connected to the event’s result workflow so that participant-specific information could be shown after a runner identified themselves using their race card.

Once the participant was recognized, the system could call up the relevant race information and present it on the split flap display, including the race category, participant number and recorded finishing time.

This transformed individual race data into a physical, mechanical display that runners could see, hear and photograph.

Interactive Race Result Experience

A key feature of the installation was its personalized interaction.

After finishing the race, participants could tap or scan their race card at the result station using a contactless race card identification system.

The event system then identified the participant and retrieved the corresponding race result.

The information was sent to the split flap display, which changed mechanically to show the runner’s individual data.

A typical result could appear as:

CONGRATS
50K 5603
07:05:43

This made the display different from a traditional fixed scoreboard. Each participant could generate their own personalized race result on the same mechanical display.

Design & Customization

The scoreboard was designed around a simple three-row information structure that could be understood immediately.

The first row displays a congratulatory message such as CONGRATS.

The second row displays the participant’s race category and race number.

The third row presents the runner’s official race time.

Using 20 × 15 cm split flap modules gave the display large, highly visible characters while keeping the overall scoreboard compact enough to integrate into the event structure.

The black split flap modules with white characters also created strong contrast against the colorful KOREA 50K 10th anniversary graphics.

The result retained the recognizable mechanical character of a classic split flap board while functioning as a modern, data-driven race result display.

From Race Result to Photo Moment

The display also became an important part of the participants’ finish-line celebration.

After their result appeared on the board, runners could stand beside the split flap display and take photographs showing their:

Race category
Participant number
Finishing time

Instead of simply checking a result on a phone or digital screen, participants received a physical and highly visual way to record their achievement.

Throughout the event, different runners used the same split flap scoreboard to display their own personalized results and take commemorative photographs.

This combination of information display and participant interaction turned the scoreboard into both a functional race result system and an event photo experience.

Result

The KOREA 50K project demonstrates how a split flap display can be used far beyond traditional airport-style information boards.

By connecting participant identification and race-result data with a mechanical display, the installation became an interactive split flap scoreboard capable of presenting personalized information for individual runners.

The project combined:

Race result information
Mechanical movement and sound
Participant interaction
Event branding
Finish-line photography

The same concept can be adapted for marathons, trail races, cycling events, motorsports and other competitions where participant numbers, scores, rankings, finishing times or other event data need to be displayed in a distinctive physical format.

Create a Custom Split Flap Scoreboard

Looking for a mechanical scoreboard, race result display or interactive event display?

TS Display can customize the module layout, character set, enclosure and control system around your application.

Split flap displays can be used for race timing, participant results, scores, rankings, countdowns and other customized event information.

Tell us what you need to display and the available installation space — we can help design the right split flap configuration for your project.