Excitement is building in the city for the much anticipated return of the Train Race concept as the inaugural Nelson Mandela Bay Train Race gets set to leave the Port Elizabeth station at 9am on Sunday 27th July.
The concept, re-introduced by Zports after an absence of 10 years, will see running teams of 7 members taking on a Metro Rail train between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, a distance of approximately 40km. Various categories of entry have been made available to include corporate, social, club and school teams as they challenge each other for trophies and bragging rights in this signature Metro event.
Limited to just 300 teams in 2014, the Nelson Mandela Bay Train Race is expected to sell out before July given that over a half of the alloted entries have already been snapped up by local companies keen to be a part of this awesome team building event. Zports have also made spectator tickets available on the train with less than a third of the 500 tickets remaining.
Entry fees started at R350 per team with spectator train tickets only R50 for a return ticket. The Nelson Mandela Bay Train Race also offers companies the opportunity to order custom branded t-shirts with their entry as well as hospitality packages for the finish festival area.
NMBT chief executive officer Mandlakazi Skefile said they welcomed the idea of the event as it would continue to promote the region’s status as a popular sporting destination. “NMBT supports the return of the Train Race concept as unique attractions and activities have great importance to market the destination.” Said Skefile.
The Great Train Race was one of the largest road running events in the Province when when relay teams raced the Apple Express between Port Elizabeth and Loerie but sadly that event was last help in 2004. This year a new, sustainable, format has been conceived which will become the first major sporting event to incorporate all three towns which make up Nelson Mandela Bay; Port Elizabeth, Despatch & Uitenhage as relay teams cover the 40km distance between Port Elizabeth station and the Uitenhage Station and will race against a Metro Rail train – each year the race direction will alternate to create an up and a down run.
The first teams are expected to reach Uitenhage Station around 11am with the last teams should be in just before the 1pm prize giving on the Powerade Stage. A festival of activities will welcome teams at Uitenhage Station including the Castle Lite Beer Garden managed by the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth Sunrise for charity with lots of food vendors in support.
For online entry, purchase of train tickets and other information, check out the event website on www.nmbTrainRace.co.za. Partnership and branding opportunities have been made available for companies at each of the change-over stations, water points or on train coaches. Any organisations or individuals keen to volunteer their support on the morning are encouraged to contact the organisers through the website.
Alan Straton
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