Financial strife
ation made the announcement about the prize money purse.
“Three years ago, I said Comrades should be paying winners R1-million. Instead of moving up, we are going backward,” 2015 Comrades winner Gift Kelehe told The Sowetan in response to the announcement that the prize money would be halved.
“It’s a rip-off because, remember, you are getting that money and you still have to pay tax 16%, your manager 10%.
“You need to buy supplements, R1,000 for entry fee, accommodation and you still have to travel.”
The reduced prize money was as a result of the events of the past two years, according to Delaine Cool, marketing and communications manager for the Comrades, .
“The Comrades Marathon had to take a few drastic steps in order to preserve the financial resources that we have … to make this year’s race happen. It’s no secret that we’re also experiencing a budget deficit,” Cool told DM168.
“Over the past two years, sponsors wanted a return on investment for what they put into the Comrades. If there’s no race, there’s no sponsorship.”
Cool said that the 2022 edition had to make some changes so the iconic race could hopefully bounce back financially and find the balance between functioning and making it worthwhile for participants.
“We have had a few sponsors who stood by us in hard times.
“But we also understood that we needed to be able to host the race in order to give sponsors their fair due and return on investment,” Cool stated.
“We’re still facing financial difficulty. Hopefully after this year’s race and going into next year, we can somehow break even. “But it’s going to be another tough year going forward. Though we’re up for it.”