The MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha today launched the 2012, AIMS-DSR Youth Run which will take place at Hoy Park in Durban on Saturday, 2 June 2012 commencing at 08h30.
Traditionally the race is run a day before the Comrades Marathon and allows youth an opportunity to be part of the Comrades Experience. The AIMS-DSR Youth Run has been run as the National Youth Run previously and has been in existence since 2008. In essence the 5/10 km run remains essentially the same but has taken on a new identity.
The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) is the title sponsors of the event and the race is an essential part of their strategy to promote an active and positive lifestyle amongst the youth.
AIMS, the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races have granted the event international status as part of their agreement with the Comrades Marathon Association and for the next three years the DSR Youth Run will be run as part of the AIMS Children’s Series. The AIMS Children’s Series are run in three cities around the world with the other two being in Dar-Es-Salaam and San Luis Potosi.
“The Comrades Marathon, by its very nature, is not suitable for young runners, but this does not mean we should not offer them something within the context of the whole Comrades experience, “commented the MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.
Coming as it does two weeks before the Youth Day holiday, it is appropriate to highlight the impact of the youth in shaping the future of our country. The AIMS-DSR Youth Run thus is run to commemorate all the youth that made such a significant impact in giving us our democracy.
The main objective is to promote running as a healthy physical activity and an enjoyable and positive lifestyle choice for young people. The department is confident that initiatives such as the AIMS-DSR Youth Run will lay the foundation for our future stars to begin to dominate the national and international arenas.
The AIMS-DSR Youth Run is an initiative of the Department of Sport and Recreation and run in partnership with the Comrades Marathon Association, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics and AIMS.
The race attracted over 3,400 athletes last year and the organiser’s are expecting a field of 5,000 youth from all parts of the province to be vying for the top prizes. In addition to the mainly school learners that participate a large number of children of visiting runners participating in the Comrades Marathon have also entered. Traditionally the event gets a truly international field as the race is peppered with Comrades Runners that use the race as a warm-up before the Ultimate Human Race the next day. Thus while the main focus of the event is on youth, both the 10km and 5km components are open to participants of all ages with prizes limited to the youth.
The department provides transport and accommodation for athletes residing in the remote parts of the province to ensure that the rural communities participate in the race. Incentives are provided to schools that registered the highest number of learners finishing the race. The race has historically produced some exciting finishers as the finish is transformed into a buzz of activity as athletes jostle for positions in an effort to snatch the lucrative prize money on offer.
As this is a scheduled event on the Athletics South Africa (ASA) and KZN Athletics Association (KZNA) calendar and athletes must participate with race numbers as sanctioned at all official road races.
“For the past 7 years, the department has invested in the development of athletes and the AIMS-DSR Youth Run allows previously disadvantaged athletes an opportunity to be a part of an international event such as the Comrades Marathon. I have endorsed my department’s plan to promote social cohesion and I am expecting that youth from all backgrounds will transform the event into a truly South African experience”; said the MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha.
Gary Boschoff, CEO of the Comrades Marathon Association said; “The running of the DSR Youth Run under the AIMS banner has given this event a truly international flavour. As part of the AIMS Children Series the performances our youth will now be on the world map.”
The race has chosen as its Ambassador this year, versatile presenter Phindi Gule, from Gagasi FM fame. She said; “The Youth Run is close to my heart as it was my first formal race ever. From just running 5km less than a year ago, I will now be running the Ultimate Human Race - Comrades Marathon, 2012.
This to me is testament that we can achieve anything we set our mind to. If the mind is in the right place, the body will oblige...and this is with anything and everything in life. I feel blessed knowing that as an Ambassador for the Youth Run I will have the honour of instilling this spirit to the younger generation helping them to be the best they can be in years to come. “
In addition to the AIMS-DSR Youth Run the department supports the first male and female KZN runner’s home in the Comrades Marathon with incentive of R30, 000. This serves as a motivation for KZN runners to begin to make their mark on a memorable international marathon. The department will also host a Hydration Table at Inchanga.
