January 22, 2003
By Tendai Dhliwayo
A NEW annual athletic event for Johannesburg has been announced by MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Jabu Moleketi.
This year the event will coincide with the opening of the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Newtown on Sunday 20 July
Speaking at the launch in Newtown on Tuesday, Moleketi said communities across all age groups including school learners, celebrities as well as both local and international athletes will take part in the running festival, which coincides with Nelson Mandela's 85th birthday celebrations.
The festival, dubbed Blue IQ Joburg City challenge, is also an honour for Mandela, who was a zealous sports person. Besides, added Moleketi, it will contribute to the health of the people of Gauteng.
"This is a race for all citizens of Gauteng. It provides an opportunity to draw back thousands of Gauteng citizens to the inner city to show the visible differences that have been achieved recently for all to be proud of," Moleketi said.
Moleketi said the family event will include a 21km marathon, a 10km race and a 5km fun run. A 400-metre race will be set for children, as well as a celebrity mile for invited track athletes. The MEC called on the people of Gauteng to take part in the race to support the renewal of the city.
Hezekiel Sepeng and Josiah Thugwane as well as other personalities, are scheduled to take part.
For the 21km marathon, the first man and woman to finish will each receive R175 000. A total of R826 000 has been set aside for winners in all categories.
Entry forms for the race will be available from shopping centres, newspapers and schools. All participants are required to pay R20 to enter the competition and proceeds will be donated to children's charity around Johannesburg.
The Nelson Mandela Bridge has been described as a dream that has become a reality. It will link Braamfontein and Newtown, "making it easier for people coming from the north and west of the city to access both Newtown and the inner city," according to a statement by Blue IQ.
The cable-styled bridge, the largest in Southern Africa, will be completed before June.
Apart from the 284-metre bridge, which will become a city landmark, another development in Newtown is the construction of the M1 Carr Street interchange, which includes the formation of an on- and off-ramp linking the M1 South and North to Carr Street.
Other developments in the area include facelifts at Mary Fitzgerald Square, the Newtown Music Centre, a Craft and Design Centre and the Metro Mall.
