Durban — After a two-year break due to Covid-19, the Comrades Marathon is back and is projected to bring R248 million to the economy of KwaZulu-Natal with its return on Sunday.
In a statement on Thursday, Tourism KZN welcomed the thousands of visitors to the province for the 95th Comrades Marathon.
Welcoming the runners and spectators to the event, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, said: “The event will bring a much-needed economic boost to the cities of Pietermaritzburg, with accommodation occupancies reported to be peaking at 93%, and Durban and uMhlanga, at 69%, for the weekend. The event will be held amid much fanfare following a two-year break brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Duma stated that the province was ready to ensure that runners and spectators, both national and international, had an exceptional experience.
“We are always ready to showcase our beautiful and exceptional province, world-class facilities, and tourist attractions. This year more than 15 000 runners are registered for the race, and we hope they will not only enjoy the race, but also take the time to explore the multitude of attractions, our many sites, and wonders – from the beach to the Berg.
“This year’s race slogan is, ‘The Return – Sishay' Ibuya’, which signals the long-awaited return to road-running and a celebration of the comeback of The Ultimate Human Race, and that KZN is back in action and the Comrades Marathon is back in full force, which will see thousands of runners descend on KZN from all over the world.”
The runners will wait for a cock’s crow to signal the start of the race, at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall, for the Down Run of the world’s biggest and oldest ultra-marathon that will end 12 hours later at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
With the province’s warm winter season, runners, their families and support groups can escape the winter chill and descend on KZN to soak up the sun.
Tourism KZN said the province had a lot to offer its visitors from the warm beaches and game reserves to the pleasant Midlands.
“The Midlands boasts a rich history with galleries and museums such as the Mandela Capture Site, eateries, world-class accommodation establishments, and spa venues,” said Duma.
He added that KZN tourist experiences included a cultural experience and other attractions that could be found along the race route.
Duma said KZN was a family destination and the Comrades was an exciting event and a fun outdoor experience for the whole family.
“The province is known for its friendly people topped with good weather which contributes to the unbeatable atmosphere along the route. The province has a well-established history of rich cultural landscapes and a wide range of fine destinations,” he said.
“Its appeal ranges from safaris, beaches and good cuisine to a myriad other tourism experiences; Comrades visitors are urged to take advantage of what is on offer. We hope that the cash injection will trickle down to all communities along the 90km route and indeed into other parts of the province.
“We are excited to be able to host this marathon after a two-year absence, and we wish all the runners the best of luck for this year’s Down Run, and encourage them to stay longer and enjoy our hospitality with family,” he said.
The last edition, an Up Run, was won by Edward Mothibi. His compatriot and Olympian, Gerda Steyn, clinched the women’s title in a blistering record time of 5:58:53.
In this year’s race, the man and woman who finish first will each bag R260 000. Those who finish second will get R130 000 each. A third-place finish will earn R90 000. The event’s marketing and communications manager, Delaine Cool, said there was no mandate for the runners to be vaccinated.
“The organising committee has been planning this race for the past year. And it’s good that Covid-19 has finally allowed us to host the 95th Comrades Marathon after the cancellation of the last two editions.”
Daily News