The Comrades Marathon will go ahead peacefully on Sunday. This is the commitment from Athletics South Africa (ASA) president Leonard Chuene and president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) Willie Madisha.
The two leaders have had discussions around the matter, and they have both agreed that there will be no disruption to the ”ultimate race”, and the event has been given the full support by Cosatu.
With less than 48 hours to the start of the 82nd Comrades Marathon from Pietermaritzburg to Durban Sunday, the Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) general manager reiterated that there was no doubt whatsoever that the Comrades run will go ahead as scheduled and it is sure that everything will go along smoothly as planned.
Speaking at a media briefing in Durban on Friday Gary Boshoff said: ”The CMA has thus far not received any direct communication about any potential disruptions. But we have taken note of comments made in the media quoting various sources as warning that the 2007 Comrades is not immune from targeting.”
Boshoff added: ”Should there be any threat of disruption between now and the start of the race on Sunday morning it will be addressed by the KwaZulu-Natal Athletics and ASA as and when required.
”Meanwhile, the CMA is continuing with normal preparations, which include a review of contingency measures in the event of any unforeseen problems occurring.”
He confirmed that ”all strategic structures were in place and that at all times the safety of runners was at heart”.
He said that included in the 1 2000 starters from the Maritzburg City Hall at 5.30am on Sunday were 450 foreign athletes.
”Risk-management structures and plans to meet any contingency, especially should there be a major disaster, were well in hand in and line with all previous modern day Comrades Marathons.”
He outlined as a major factor concerns from some competitors about the medical support on the day in the light of the industrial action,
”Nothing has changed. Our medical partners, Netcare 911, are not involved in strike action and will be on patrol at all stages of the race as well as being served by a helicopter rescue ambulance.
”In addition there are 50 rescue buses available all along the route to meet all medical emergencies.
”In this regard every runner can feel perfectly safe.”
In another development, the CMA and the KwaZulu-Natal department of transport have embarked on a campaign aimed to ensure that runners are safe on the roads. The campaign is to be dubbed Asiphephe, which means ‘to be safe’.
In this regard the CMA has called on all South Africans to come out and support the greatest ultra-marathon in the World — the 2007 Comrades. — Sapa