Runners get a chance to represent SA

SANDTON – It was the official launch of the global Vitality Running World Cup with South Africa's captain Wayde van Niekerk at the Discovery offices in Sandton

March 18, 2020

Aneesa Adams 2 minutes read

Discovery Vitality CEO Dinesh Govender, current world and Olympic record holder Wayde van Niekerk and South African marathon and ultramarathon athlete Bruce Fordyce at the launch of the Vitality Running World Cup in Sandton. Photo: Aneesa Adams

The launch of the much-anticipated Vitality Running World Cup – a global sponsorship enabling anyone to run for their country – recently took place at the Discovery offices in Sandton.

Discovery Vitality CEO Dinesh Govender said, “It all starts with our core purpose which is making people healthier and that is why we are here today. We have partnered with the Vitality World Cup to actually get people to move more. One of our ambitions is to get 100 million people more active by 2025.”

The annual running competition is free to enter and gives both active and inactive people the opportunity to move more. The competition will take place in 180 countries for a full month – 5 March to 5 April. The competition allows countries to compete against each other for the top spot which will go to the country with the largest distance covered, relative to their population takes the cup.

The panel discusses the benefits of the Vitality Running World Cup at the recent launch. *Photo: Aneesa Adams*

Every participant who completes at least three kilometres in under 30 minutes, anywhere in SA, and tracks their kilometres via an approved smartphone app or fitness device, will be able to contribute towards their country’s total.

Team South Africa will be captained by current world and Olympic record holder Wayde van Niekerk who wants to motivate fellow South Africans to get moving too. “I think just making people aware of the blessing we have, being able to be active… I mean there are so many people who can’t and the fact that we have this privilege and opportunity to wake up and be active every day is already enough motivation for me,” he said.

ALSO READ: SPAR Grand Prix Awards see SAs best female road runners honoured

Training for the upcoming 2020 Olympics, Van Niekerk said that he is hungry to win. “I had a bit of the test on the track. Getting a taste of that again really brought a lot of hunger back to me and hopefully we will get the World Cup and I’ll get an Olympic medal.”

Joining him in the cup is legendary South African marathon and ultramarathon athlete Bruce Fordyce. Running from the age of three, Fordyce is an icon in the sport. “I got a photograph winning a race when I was about three years old so I have always loved it. If it’s running then you want me in your team. I just found that as I get older, the better I got so it is an honour and a privilege to be here with Wayde but 400 metres to me with no hills, only one lap and its flat – that’s not running,” he joked.

To register or find out more, visit www.runningworldcup.com