The Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon will take on a musical theme when this year’s race - a five-star certified race by European Athletics Running for All - takes place on 9 April.
The Ukrainian capital city is gearing up to stage the Eurovision Song Contest in May and as part of the build-up to the annual event, more than 43 groups and singers will be performing live on the course.
The idea was jointly initiated by Run Ukraine and the city’s tourism board who saw the potential of using the half marathon to promote the Eurovision Song Contest as well as the city itself.
“Due to our high level of organisation, the number of foreign and Ukrainian participants is growing,” said Anton Taranenko, noting that around 10,000 runners are expected to take part in this year’s race.
“Tourists who come to the capital for our running events stay for a few days afterwards to get to know the city. Given that Kyiv is the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest, we proposed the idea of not only promoting the city but also the contest. The combination of music and sporting events creates a positive image and allows us to further promote Kyiv.”
A total of 43 groups will be positioned at 500m intervals along the 13.1-mile course. The groups will be performing a variety of genres from popular music to traditional Ukrainian songs.
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“We have added music to our race to make it more atmospheric and to make participation in the race unforgettable. The participants, which will include many runners from abroad, will no doubt be pleased to hear the music of their country.
“In addition, we want to remind everyone about the variety of music and the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest,” said Victoria Veremienko, the marketing and communications director of Run Ukraine.
The race will also serve as the national half marathon championships with prize money on offer for the top finishers. Shorter races at 10km, 5km and 2km will take place alongside the half marathon along with corporate and relay events as well as races for youngsters.
The European Athletics Quality Road Race standards act as an assurance for road runners throughout Europe. They distinguish between races that respect the standards and those that haven’t sought certification or assessment. They form the foundation of Running for All, a strong recognisable brand for running activities throughout Europe.
More information on Running for All:
Website: european-running4all.org
Twitter: @runningforall
Contact: [email protected]