The Comrades marathon comes back to life this Sunday, August 28, in South Africa after a two-year hiatus linked to Covid-19. This race takes place in the province of KwaZulua-Natal, between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, either uphill or downhill depending on the editions. This year the race is organized downhill, towards Durban and the Indian Ocean for the 15,000 runners.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
This sporting event, one of the most popular in South Africa, is also a driving force for the province’s economy.
In 2019, a study estimated the economic benefits for the region generated by the Comrades race at 32 million euros. His return is therefore a bubble of oxygen.
A real TV marathon too
This year, the race can count on the TV rights of SuperSport. The broadcaster will transform the event into a televised marathon: 13 hours of live, from the start, at 5:30 am.
Experts, helicopters, 36 cameras… For its 95th edition, the marathon will be filmed from every angle and broadcast in part of the world.
For this downhill edition, the men’s record will be to cover the 90km in 5h, 18min and 19s. This record was held by a South African in 2016. For women: 5h54min and 43 seconds, record held by a South African since 1989.
Read also: South Africa: South African David Gatebe wins the Comrades Marathon
For the others, the objective will be to reach the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban and breathe in the spray from the Indian Ocean. In 2018, 86% of participants covered the 90 km to the end.