The Color Run™ international event series brings happiness to a town near you
The Color Run™ international event series brings happiness to a town near you
The world’s largest, international event series and the original of all powder races, The Color Run™, will be turning the streets of 15 South African towns and cities into a 5km canvas of colour.
The Color Run (www.thecolorrun.co.za) has been a phenomenal success since launching in USA in 2012. With 4.5 million global participants and an ever-increasing presence in 50 countries by the end of 2014, The Color Run South Africa will add 15 events to the international line up. An incredible 100,000 Color Runners in South Africa are expected to take part from across the rainbow nation, in a truly national roll out plan, in which smaller holiday and university towns will also present The Color Run alongside all major South African cities.
Internationally renowned as a revolutionary event concept that has united a global community of Color Runners, The Color Run will promote values of health, happiness and unity throughout South Africa. The new genre of running event attracts 60% first time runners, as the emphasis lies on having the time of your life with friends and family, as opposed to clocking an Olympic record. Run, jog, walk, dance, get pushed in a pram … the race is untimed so it’s about finding the fun!
Color Runners fashion their white outfits supplied by the organisers. One of the unique features of the event is that participants look the same at the start of the race, modeling their white Color Run apparel, reaffirming the values of unity and cohesion, an important gesture in a South African context. Children under 10 years old take part for free, an approach which strongly associates The Color Run brand with parents and families. It’s not surprising that The Color Run™ brings all walks of life together, under one colourful roof, to create the ‘happiest 5km’ in South Africa.
Following two sold out events in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town 2013, The Color Run™ license for Africa was awarded to South African sports events management company, Sportsvendo, in May 2014. Sportsvendo, established in 1991, has coordinated and promoted more than 600 premium sporting events in Africa.
Leon Swanepoel, CEO of Sportvendo, is delighted to have gained the rights to The Color Run™ Africa. “We plan to bring this unique event to at least fifteen towns and cities across the country over the next twelve months. The first event took place on 24 August in Port Elizabeth, followed by Johannesburg in September and Cape Town in October.”
“We are extremely excited to be part of a successful global venture and be responsible for bringing this high quality event to South Africa.” Swanepoel continues, “The five-year plan for the event involves a continental roll out throughout Africa, and will see up to as many as 50 events taking place annually.”
Swanepoel concludes, “After witnessing the energy of 9,500 Color Runners enjoying themselves in Port Elizabeth and 12,500 in Cape Town last year, I have no doubt that this event will present incredible opportunities and partnerships in Africa and create more happiness and unity amongst our fans.”
Once the starting gun fires, the 5km begins. At each kilometer, volunteers blast clouds of colour powder all over Color Runners as they run through ‘colour stations’. Each of the 4 stations represents the colours of the South African flag: yellow, red, blue and green. The race ends with a colour throwing festival where Color Runners and spectators make the world a more vibrant place whilst dancing to their favourite music in the dreamy ambience of massive clouds of floating colour.
CEO of The Color RunTM in the USA, Travis Snyder has given his invaluable support to the event execution in South Africa after a recent meeting with the South African organisers in Los Angeles. “It really is an event for all fitness levels, ages and backgrounds,” explains Snyder. “Our tag line is ‘The happiest 5k on the planet’ for a reason. The line was created after seeing how happy it made people.”
Some might suspect that “the messiest 5k” is an apt name for the event, but Color Runners needn’t despair. The magical Color Run™ powder washes off easily from hair, skin, and clothes. The colour powder is made of organic corn starch, and is dyed with organic food colouring, therefore it’s completely safe and natural.
The Color Run™ supports local suppliers for each event and uses its proceeds to donate to a local charity partner in every Color Run location.
For regular updates LIKE the Facebook page facebook.com/thecolorrunsouthafrica or FOLLOW US on Twitter @TheColorRunSA. Alternatively, contact hello@thecolorrun.co.za or visit www.thecolorrun.co.za
More info on the South Africa area |