Nedbank Citi Dash this weekend
Nedbank Citi Dash this weekend

Nedbank Citi Dash this weekend

Coinciding with International Olympic Day, the Nedbank Citi Dash aims to get Namibians off their couches and active.
Gerine Hoff
Getting people active is exactly what the organisers of the Nedbank Citi Dash are aiming for, says organiser Patrick de Goede.

The annual Nedbank Citi Dash takes place in the capital this weekend, with the action starting and ending at Zoo Park, and following a loop along Independence Avenue.

De Goede says they are aiming to get 2 000 runners and walkers at the event on Sunday.

“But in future our vision is to get 5 000 participants involved,” he says.

He adds that this event is part of their #namibiabeactive campaign that is simply a broader vision to get people active, no matter what sport code they practice.

“This is especially important for the younger generation. Our youth is in trouble simply because the odds are stacked against them in terms of food and electronics. The Citi Dash is a call to everyone to get physically active. Running is probably the most cost-effective way to get active,” added De Goede.

Along with Nedbank's Lionel Matthews who will be participating, Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua ran last year, and the hope is that he will do so again this year. As a matter of interest, the day of the Citi Dash is International Olympic Day, which is celebrated around the world in more than 160 countries.

Runners and walkers can enter online via EventsToday/PayToday until Thursday at 18:00. Thereafter manual entries can be made at Cycletech (324 Sam Nujoma Ave) on Friday until 17:30. All numbers can be fetched at Zoo Park on Saturday from 14:00 until 18:00.

The elite dash for serious athletes starts at 7:00 in front of Zoo Park on Sunday, and they have 50 minutes to complete the route. At 8:00 the fun run and walks (5km or 10km) starts for everyone else.

Both routes start and end at Zoo Park.

Participation costs N$250 for the elite run and N$50 for the 10km or 5km fun run.

If you buy your ticket via PayToday, you get 25% off.

As an incentive, De Goede says that in total around N$55 000 in prizes are up for grabs. The top five elite runners in the open men and women's categories, the top three of the junior men and women's categories and the top three of both categories for athletes in wheelchairs and the vision-impaired will win prizes.

In addition, De Goede says that any corporate that enters 30 or more persons pays a reduced entry fee of only N$30, adding that businesses should get in touch with him for block bookings. To encourage schools and sport clubs to enter, there's also prize-monies to be won. “The club and school with the most entries, gets N$3 000 while second and third place receive N$2 000 and N$1 000 respectively,” says the organiser.

To add to the fun, there are ten N$1 000 prizes to be won in the fun run category. This will be handed out just before the prize-giving that starts at 10:00. By 11:00 everyone is expected to be home.

Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) will be broadcasting the event live via the Windhoek Express Facebook page.

For more info and to make block bookings, contact De Goede at [email protected]

Gerine Hoff

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-25

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