ALL RUNNERS ARE BEAUTIFUL - MEDIA GUIDE - RunCzech
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
PRAGUE 30. 5. 2021 ALL RUNNERS ARE BEAUTIFUL MEDIA GUIDE
The capital city of Prague fully supports the development of sports, and events such as the Battle
of the Teams is one of the examples. During a persistent coronavirus pandemic, it is particularly
important to stay fit and healthy, both physically and mentally. Sport and a healthy lifestyle gives
everyone peace of mind, so I feel very pleased every time I spot runners running in our streets,
parks, or forests. It is also very beautiful to see runners of all ages, who are so passionate that even
bad weather does not discourage them. I believe that the numbers of new runners will be enlarging and at the same
time I wish all participating runners the best possible running performances.
Vít Šimral
Councilor for Education, Sports, Science and Business Support
Hello, everyone.
From the moment the pandemic shut everything down, runners—and race organizers—have been
looking forward to the day when our beloved sport would be back. And the longer it took, the more
we wanted it. The question for us at RunCzech was, do we want to restart our lives with our usual
slate of races? Or do we want to celebrate breaking the chains of Covid with something big, bold
and new? That’s how we come up with the concept of Battle of the Teams, an entirely new twist on an ancient sport.
We found a way of making this great event even more dramatic, more watchable and (we hope) more motivating
when it comes to inspiring more people to run. The marathon as a team sport! A sport where the last finisher is just
as important as the first.
But as much as we hope this inspires and excites runners, we hope it will also inspire other race organizers. Not to
replicate our event, but to invent their own. Let’s all use the pent-up frustration we experienced during the lockdown
to launch a new era in the history of the marathon. We are on the verge of breaking free of Covid. Let’s now use
Covid to break free of conventional thinking.
Carlo Capalbo
Head of the RunCzech Organizing Committee
the BATTLE OF THE TEAMS – A NEW TWIST ON AN ANCIENT SPORT The marathon has long been thought of as a contest between individuals. But at RunCzech, we asked ourselves, „what if we could present it as well as a team sport?” Suddenly the drama doesn’t end when the first runner crosses the finish line. In fact, it’s just getting started. WHAT IS the BATTLE OF THE TEAMS? Take 32 of the best marathoners in the world, from Africa, Asia, Europe (including the Czech Republic) and elsewhere. Group them into four teams each made up of four women and four men, and each backed by corporate partners. Runners are „drafted” into teams based on their personal bests over the past 48 months, so that their collective abilities would be evenly—almost perfectly—matched. This gives each team an excellent chance to win gold. HOW IT WORKS Eight of the runners form the team, with two running backup in case some members fail to finish (DNF). Each team has a runner from the Czech Republic. Points are awarded based on the World Athletics Scoring System. And runners who achieve a personal best earn a 10% points bonus. In the end, points are tallied, similar to Formula 1 racing, and the team with the highest number of points wins. Prize money is shared equally among all team members.
How the point system works?
32
ATHLETES
4
TEAMS
4 MEN + 4 WOMEN
13 LAPS
42.195 km
Final time Personal Best = TOTAL TEAM SCORE
2:08:44 = 1,184
points by
+10%
BONUS POINTS
6
results per team
tallied and the team
with the most points
scoring system
WINS
team captain:
team
kateřina
neumannová
“I am convinced that every
runner is the winner,
because they run for
the charity.”
Kateřina is a former cross country skier, winning six Olympic
medals for the Czech Republic, and adding two gold medals to
her repertoire from the World Championships.
marathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:14:35 2:23:52 2:06:00
FROM NEXT
kenya, see you LEVEL
with love in tokyo ATHLETE
Jiří homoláč Reia iwade Thomas kiplagat
Jiří has been working on his marathon craft, Reia started to run competitively in Thomas seems poised for a breakthrough
among other high-altitude locations, in Iten, her native Japan, in junior high school, after 2017 and 2019 victories in Seoul and
Kenya, immersed in one of the strongest progressing to the Japanese corporate a 3rd place finish in Abu Dhabi in 2018. He
running cultures in the world. With a 63:23 athletics system and turning full-time pro. is a family man, father of two. Thomas is
half marathon PB, Jirka is due for a mara- She debuted over the marathon distance based in Kaptagat, Kenya and is ready for
thon breakthrough and we are with him all at only 19 years of age, with 2:27:21 in his Prague debut.
the way to Tokyo and beyond! Yokohama in 2014. Currently, Reia is an
independent pro-athlete and she remains as
1234 points
1081 points committed as ever to her craft.
1194 points
marathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:21:32 2:05:13 2:18:34
going gasping TOUGH.
places a chance SWEET.
bedatu hirpa nobert kigen ruti aga
Bedatu is another globe trotter, with Top 5 Nobert hails from the family of athletes, he Ruti is a very strong and independent
finishes in Dubai, Tokyo, Seville, Frankfurt, is the nephew of the late Elijah Korir, former woman, transforming into a warrior during
Athens, Madrid… Full passport of visa World U20 Cross Country Champion; and his competitions, while being more approach-
stamps, full cabinet of trophies and medals. mother and grandmother were both national able and personable outside of pre-race and
Her 2019 seemed a bit below-par, but she level athletes; with Nobert’s spouse also post-race pressure environments.
bounced back in Dubai 2020 and we are being an athlete (Jane Moraa,
expecting fireworks in Prague on 30 May. 2:30-marathoner).
1248 points
1218 points 1249 points SUBSTITUTED mare dibaba
SUBSTITUTED filex kiprotich
marathon PB marathon PB
2:08:32 2:28:49
loves the NEXT
challenge generation
“we support teenagers
and young adults with
oncological diseases
throughout the Czech
Republic. Our mission is to
abdi ibrahim aberu mulisa help young cancer fighters
gain optimism during
It seems that Abdi loves the challenge – Different to many of her peers, Aberu
2nd in Rome, Istanbul and the winner in discovered athletics late, in terms of
treatment, strength during
Hefei in his marathon career thus far. Based professional approach to sport, at the age their convalescence and
on these performances we could expect him of 18, following her aunt’s footsteps who independence and fulfillment
to do well in the Battle of the Teams. was a national level athlete.
in their new life journey.
1188 points 1144 points
SUBSTITUTED rebeca chesire
support>
pinkbubble.cz
team captain:
team
zuzana
hejnová
“I believe that my team
will run with everything
they got… and win!”
Zuzana took home the Olympic bronze medal in London 2012
for 400m hurdles event and won the gold medal in 2013,
as well as in 2015, in the same event.marathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:15:35 2:27:26 2:06:21
MR. runczech’s stepping
fantastic winner! stones
Vít Pavlišta Lilia Fisikovici Yitayal Atnafu
Son of a biathlete (mother) and a competitive Lilia is a well-known runner of the RunCzech Yitayal is a fan of football, he is a Manches-
skier (father), Vít graduated from Jilemnické Running League, with victories in Karlovy ter United supporter and he built his career
sportovní gymnasium (high school), deve- Vary, Ceske Budejovice and Olomouc and in Houston, Texas with four 2nd place
loping into a disciplined athlete. He is now a podium finish in Usti nad Labem. With finishes in 2016 – 2019 period. He is a de-
multiple National marathon, half marathon the Olympic standard secured, what is pendable, consistent performer and Battle
and 10,000 meters champion and a full- left for Lilia is to enjoy the race, have fun of the Teams could be his stepping stone to
-time employee of Pivovar Svijany, where he and perform well for herself and Team the next level.
works as warehouse records specialist. Volkswagen.
1228 points
1064 points 1158 pointsmarathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:22:06 2:04:32 2:20:39
just tokyo. chasing
getting chicago. glory
started prague.
Diana Kipyokei Dickson Chumba Purity Rionoripo
Diana started her marathon career in 2019 in Dickson won the prestigious Tokyo Purity is a super-talent – From World
Ljubljana, Slovenia and has completed two Marathon in 2018 and finished on Under-18 title in 2009; to World Cross
marathons so far. Third in debut, then victory podiums in Tokyo and Chicago on multiple Country Under-20 silver in 2010, to 2:20
in Istanbul. Not a bad start. She is a winner of occasions. Sunday, May 30 will see his marathon performance in Valencia in
the Usti nad Labem half marathon and podium Prague debut, in the extraordinary career 2019. She was the winner in Paris, second
finisher in Birell Prague Grand Prix 2018. Just that is spanning over 11 years, which is in Prague, third in Nagoya and fourth
getting started. virtually unheard of at the absolute top-level in Chicago in the last couple of years.
of marathon sport. Consistent and persistent, chasing glory.
1212 points
1261 points 1227 pointsmarathon PB marathon PB
2:08:48 2:24:42
loading, Patience
next level... & perse
-verance
Czech Union
for Nature Conservation:
To help passing the nature to
our descendants in the best
possible state. It is the main
Mengistu Zelalem worknesh mola goal and key task of Czech
Union for Nature Conserva-
Mengistu is a new-comer when it comes Worknesh started to run a bit after being in-
to a marathon and Battle of the Teams will spired by a group of elder villagers who ran
tion. Every animal and plant
be a stepping stone for him and he is ready together, and she got more serious about species has its own place and
for it – 2nd in Gunsan, 3rd in Castellon and exploring her talent after first successes in role on planet Earth.
Dublin. After almost seven years on the local races and especially in Addis Ababa.
international scene, it seems his time is
coming.
1185 points
1183 points SUBSTITUTED ruth chebitok
support>
csop.czthe voice of the battle of the teams
“The Battle of the Teams initiative will be, I believe, the start of something very big in the already
massively popular world of road racing. Distance running and marathon racing in particular, is
fundamentally about the individual, but if the efforts of a team of individuals can be tied together,
then that multiplies the interest and value for spectators, TV viewers, sponsors and media. RunCzech
have come up with a formula that can be changed to local conditions and circumstances, but
which more than ever during this period of the pandemic, is a great way to create focus right from the Starter’s gun,
on the efforts and progress of dozens of pros, not just on the front pack. Our TV graphics have been designed to
give as much information as possible, but in a clear and accessible format which, when combined with explanatory
commentary, will bring the TV viewers right into the race, right into the actual tussle for prize money and the winning
team title. Uniquely, this can be decided by the last placed runner on each team, not just the leading athletes.”
Tim Hutchings
EXAMPLE:
Dynamic scoring system in TVthe voice of the battle of the teams
The Battle of the Teams is a brand new project, which requires a special focus on recording and
displaying runners’ split times. Therefore, the TV graphics are absolutely essential for achieving
a quality spectating experience. The advanced TV graphics will support the competitive factor of
the Battle of the Teams. Every split time will be automatically converted into points, which are based
on the World Athletics charts. In addition, each athlete can receive an extra bonus if a personal best
is achieved.Thanks to the bonus, even a slower competitor on the track can bring the largest portion of points to an
individual team. This factor requires permanent counting of each split time and out of these times, the projected time is
being constantly estimated. This will bring extra tension to the race itself because the runner´s live performance will be
frequently evaluated and then again recalculated for the projected final result. It’s something new. The new TV graphics
are very welcomed and a useful tool for a 2-hour length broadcast. new technological features which have not been
used in the TV world of athletics, will also be implemented. This technology should bring us new perceptions and also
interesting details, which are usually not visible in normal broadcasting.
Michal Dusíkteam captain:
team
petra
kvitová
“I am really looking forward
to supporting my team and
their unbelievable
results.”
Petra won two Wimbledon titles, the Fed Cup 6 times as part of
the National team, in addition to swooping the 2016 Olympic
bronze medal.marathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:26:31 2:15:25 2:06:18
our chasing ready for
olympian a personal the break-
best through!
Eva Vrabcová Nývltová Tibor Sahajda Lencho Anbesa
Recent mother, wife, dog owner, dreamer. Tibor is multiple Slovak National Champion Lencho started running as a youngster after
Olympian – Winter Games, world class in over 5000 and 10,000 meters, with three a long period of illness, on medical advice,
cross-country skiing, working hard to make years of marathoning behind him and a and realised that he is talented, and, indeed,
Czech Team (marathon) for Tokyo 2020. progress from 2:17 to 2:15 level, with him he is – Top 5 finishes since 2018 in Hefei
Bronze medallist at 2018 European Champi- continuing to search for a breakthrough and and Dubai and a victory in Venice. Lencho is
onships – marathon, Top 8 in New York City for a new personal best. ready for the breakthrough…
Marathon. National Half marathon record
holder. RunCzech Racing athlete. Eva, WOW!
1067 points 1229 points
1167 pointsmarathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:22:45 2:03:51 2:19:10
next stop: fastest in prague’s
victory! the field! winner!
Tigist Abayechew Kinde Atanaw Valary Aiyabei
What a squad of athletes we will welcome Fastest in the field, newcomer to marathon Our 2017 winner and one of the fastest
to Prague! Next one is… Tigist from Ethiopia, distance (2019), with a stunning victory ladies in the field. She is also a winner
who is seeking her first big marathon victory in Valencia, Spain in 2:03:51. This Arsenal elsewhere, in Frankfurt, Beijing, Barcelona
after Top 5 finishes in Dubai, Istanbul and Football Club fan and future taxi business and Valencia! Fan of Chelsea Football Club
Taiyuan. She is also a tennis fan… owner will be the man to watch on 30 May and Lakers, this former sustenance-farmer
Wink-wink Petra Kvitová. in Prague, Czech Republic, home of the is continuing to impress and grow.
Battle of the Teams.
1205 points 1242 points
1274 pointsmarathon PB marathon PB
2:09:39 2:23:40
next knows how
generation to win
Environmental Partnership:
the largest Czech
environmental foundation
charity - We help reduce the
impacts of climate change,
Abel Kipchumba Betty Lempus support tree planting and
educate children and adults
Abel is Iten, Kenya based RunCzech Racing Winning is not easy. And Betty knows exact-
athlete and is one of the young leaders ly how to do that, including marathon victo-
in the Open Gardens. Together
of the team. He completed one marathon ries in Enschede and Hengshui. She spent we have worked for the
only so far, in Berlin 2019, and with 59:29 recent months training consistently well and environment since 1991.
half marathon ability, we could be seeing a she will be testing her limits in Prague.
strong marathoner in the making.
30 years for people
1196 points and nature!
1168 points
support>
nadacepartnerstvi.czteam captain:
team
jiří
ježek
“I am really thankful
to RunCzech for this
opportunity for my team
to compete, because each
break in the sports life
is a long one.”
Jiří is a six-time Paralympic winner and a six-time World champion
Paralympic cyclist, he also finished the 2011 Prague Half Marathon
in 1 hour 50 minutes.marathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:29:39 2:12:57 2:06:02
next chasing podium
genera an olympic maker
-tion dream
Moira Stewartová Wily Canchanya Samuel Wanjiku
Multiple National Champion over 5000 Born and raised at 3,900m altitude in Samuel showed early talent, around the
and 10,000 meters distances. Missed on Peruvian mountain-ranges, Wily is 7th of age of 10, and after completion of primary
3 April this year, in Belp, Switzerland, 2020 eight siblings, from a family of athletes education he was sponsored to join
Olympic Games marathon standard by 9 and hardworking people of the soil. From Japanese secondary school, with Samuel
seconds. Our marathon future, running for the humble beginnings of a life without receiving education in Japan and running
the Olympic standard and for her dream of electricity, running water and other basics for Aishi Steel company for seven years.
representing Czech Republic in Tokyo. (for most of us) to national 1500m, 5000m Lots of experience, lots of athletic success
and marathon titles and a chance to make and a long and rewarding career.
1136 points Olympic team for Tokyo 2020.
1234 points
1109 pointsmarathon PB marathon PB marathon PB
2:23:19 2:05:13 2:20:11
stepping all smiles best is
stones all power yet to
come
birke beyene Benson Kipruto Guteni Shone
Agness knows how to run a marathon. Benson set his half marathon personal best Guteni started her marathon career in 2013
Period. Podiums in Paris, Seoul, Istanbul, in Prague’s Letna Park in September 2020 with 2:42:25, developing over seven years to
Hangzhou, Gold Coast… Pretty much during the Prague Restart event organized 2:20 marathoner she is today. With Top 20
everywhere on the map. Including by RunCzech. He is based in Kapsabet, in World rankings for the marathon distance
Ceske Budejovice, of course. With the Kenya. With 2:05:13 PB from 2019 and and with victories in Seville, Ottawa and
extraordinary long career of well over recent half marathon personal best, he podiums in Lanzhou and Dubai, the best is
a decade, Agness is the one to watch for. is potentially one of the favourites and yet to come for Guteni.
someone to watch for.
1199 points 1231 points
substituteD Agness Barsosio
1249 pointsmarathon PB marathon PB
2:07:34 2:24:54
2:07 debut. just
next stop getting
2:06 started Journey to a Dream organizes
sports and adventure events,
where teams of healthy and
disabled people form together.
Everyone can get involved
without any differences. The
organization organizes, for
Kenneth Keter Meseret Belete example, the longest cycling
event in the Czech Republic or
Young Kenneth is one of the first RunCzech Meseret is a young, developing marathoner, a series of quadriathlons in
Racing athletes and with 2:07 marathon with two Houston Marathons behind her,
debut in Frankfurt 2018, and after some- both with Top 5 finishes. She holds World
winter and summer disciplines.
what sub-par 2019, he is due for a rebound. Under-20 Best time for the half marathon They have long supported
Prague is his home away from home and we distance, so talent is there. Are we going to disabled children or the
expect him to do well on the home turf. witness a breakthrough? Time will tell.
elderly in sports and
1205 points 1183 points exercise.
support>
cestazasnem.czfinish start
the course Athletes will start at Charles Bridge and run an opening lap of 3,45km around Rudolfinum, Prague Castle, and arrive at Old Town Square from where they will run 13 following laps of 2,98km each. Finish Gate will be at Old Town Square. the monuments PRAGUE CASTLE – An ancient symbol of the Czech State, the most significant Czech monument and one of the most important cultural institutions in the Czech Republic. One of the many Czech UNESCO monuments with a tradition of more than 1,000 years. CHARLES BRIDGE – The oldest preserved Prague bridge. Construction began in 1357, 9.7. at 5:31am. Obviously forming a magical connection of odd numbers. OLD TOWN SQUARE AND THE ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK – The most significant square of historical Prague was founded in the 12th century. There is a beautiful Gothic tower with a bay chapel and a unique astronomical clock – known as the Orloj – where, every hour between 9 am and 11 pm, the twelve apostles appear.
PROGRAM OF THE RACE WEEK
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26 11:30 - 12:00
Arrival of the professional athletes at Prague Airport Individual interviews with athletes
16:00 - 20:00 and guest speakers
Press center/Hospitality room Hilton Prague 12:00 - 13:30
Lunch
THURSDAY, MAY 27 14:00 - 14:30
09:00 - 20:00 Official The Battle of the Teams trophy reveal
‘Press center/Hospitality room Hilton Prague 14:30 - 15:00
Reveal of RunCzech Racing singlet
FRIDAY, MAY 28 – MEDIA DAY “Run for the Oceans” concept
09:00 - 20:00 15:00 - 15:30
Press center/Hospitality room Hilton Prague Coffee Break
10:30 15:30 - 16:30
Official Presentation of The Battle of the Teams Panel talk with team captains and charities
Official Presentation of Czech Marathon Championship 16:30 - 17:00
Handing over start numbers to athletes Official teams photo (captains, charities and partners)17:00 06:30
Friendly gathering at Hilton Prague Beer Garden Karlin Start of The Battle of The Teams
Start of the Czech Marathon Championship
SATURDAY, MAY 29 08:35
Rest day for the pro-athletes Hilton Prague Expected first male finisher
09:00 - 20:00 08:50
Press center/Hospitality room Hilton Prague Expected first female finisher
16:00 - 17:00 08:45 - 09:30
Technical meeting Hilton Prague Award ceremonies
09:45
SUNDAY, MAY 30 – RACE DAY Winners available for individual interviews
06:00 - 11:00 Official team photos
Press center in guest zone 11:00 - 20:00
06:00 Press center/ Hospitality room Hilton Prague
Guest zone opens
06:20 MONDAY, MAY 31
Live broadcasting starts on ČT Sport Departure of athletes and guestsCOVID-19 PROTOCOL
RunCzech strictly adheres to Government policies for crowd safety, as it relates to Covid19 pandemic and public
health matters. For more details, please visit the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic:
https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/en/
ALL GUESTS ENTERING ANY OF THE RACE AREA OR HILTON PRAGUE PREMISES
HAVE TO WEAR A FACE MASK (FFP2/KN95).
MEDIA DAY – MAY 28
All guests entering the Hilton Prague premises must:
• Prove to be Covid negative
• Or present a document that shows you have had Covid in the last 180 days
• Or you have received the first dose of vaccine at least 3 weeks earlier
• If none of the above is possible antigen testing on spot is provided by RunCzech teamRACE DAY – MAY 30 All guests entering any of the race area they need to provide a signed self-reporting form and either: • Prove to be Covid negative (PCR Test) • Or present a document that shows you have had Covid in the last 180 days • Or you have received the first dose of vaccine at least 3 weeks earlier PCR TESTING Testing will be provided by RunCzech free of charge in cooperation with our partner Chromozoom. Chromozoom introduces revolutionary sets of reliable PCR tests that are more gentle on the body, as they are not introduced into the nasal cavity, but work on the principle of gargling in the mouth. This makes it far more convenient for athletes than a classic PCR test. TESTING WILL BE AVAILABLE AT BELOW LOCATIONS AND TIMING Hilton Prague Running Mall Friday 28. 5. 7 am – 8 pm (Palmovka room) Friday 28. 5. 8 am – 8 pm Saturday 29. 5. 7 am – 11 am (Palmovka room) Saturday 29. 5. 8 am – 11 am
IMPORTANT ADDRESSES AND CONTACTS
FOLLOW RUNCZECH ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DON’T FORGET TO TAG US
USE THE OFFICIAL HASHTAG SO THAT WE CAN FIND YOUR PICTURES: #PragueBoT21
HILTON PRAGUE > Pobřežní 1, Prague 8
RUNNING MALL > Františka Křížka 11, Prague 7
HOSPITALITY > Roberto De Blasio | +420 603 211 415 | deblasio@pim.cz watch us live worldwide
PRO–ATHLETES > Davor Savija | +420 732 623 581 | davor@ikaikasports.com
PR AND PRESS > Sašo Belovski | +420 777 746 807 | belovski@pim.cz
Michaela Simecek | +420 737 386 274 | simecek@pim.cz
www.battleoftheteams.com/streaming.html
WATCH THE RACE LIVE ON ČT SPORT – SUNDAY, ČT SPORT, 6:20 AM
WATCH THE RACE LIVE WITH ENGLISH COMMENTARY ON RUNCZECH YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
WWW.RUNCZECH.COM WWW.BATTLEOFTHETEAMS.COM – GET THE FLASH NEWS ONLINEALL RUNNERS ARE BEAUTIFUL
For us, running is not only a great sport, it is a unifying event. It transcends politics and borders
and religions. It’s accessible to anyone. And it brings glory to everyone who does it. Yes, glory.
When we say All Runners Are Beautiful, we celebrate the office worker who just wants to be
healthier. We celebrate the senior citizen who has something to prove to himself. We celebrate the
record-breakers and the wheel chair athletes. We celebrate everyone willing to pull on a pair of
running shoes and strive to make himself or herself a little healthier. A little faster. A little better.
We celebrate running because, despite our many differences, this is something we all have in
common. And that, as any diplomat will tell you, is where peace starts.WWW.BATTLEOFTHETEAMS.COM ALL RUNNERS ARE BEAUTIFUL
You can also read
