Determined feet will beat down the street
THE 49th running of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon (OMTOM) takes place at the weekend. with every expectation that the event will continue its trend of “better each year”.
Few, if any, of the 26 marathoners who faced the starter’s gun in May 1970 for the first Two Oceans 56km Marathon would have guessed that in less than 50 years the Two Oceans would be contributing about R700 million to the economy annually, but this was the finding of a recent study which included researchers from Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Western Cape Universities.
The amount excludes the estimated media value leveraged through the Two Oceans Marathon, which is estimated to be more than R130 million.
Much of this boost to the economy is based on tourism – a combination of adventure, business and responsible tourism – underlining the importance of major mass events to Cape Town.
As one of the city’s “Big Five” mass participation events – the others being the Cape Town Cycle Tour, the Cape Epic, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Cape Town Marathon – the Two Oceans Marathon stands proud as an important social benefit to Cape Town.
“The Two Oceans Marathon is a world-class product of which South Africa can be truly proud,” said Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom.
“It offers so much of what is needed to make our country great – the opportunity for people from all backgrounds, income groups, religious affiliations and ethnicity to share some hours of energetic endeavour – admittedly with a measure of pain – in pursuit of common goals.
“And of course it all takes place along the most beautiful marathon course in the world.
“Why would you not want to come from virtually anywhere on the planet to experience something unique and special?
“I’m delighted to learn that this year there are over 3 000 international and African runners taking