ATHLETICS South Africa is hoping to get sponsorship to grow the Soweto Marathon into one of the big road running events on the continent.
The event has been without a sponsorship following the withdrawal of Nebank in 2009 after the Caster Semenya gender debacle.
For the past two years, ASA has been funding this celebrated 42.2km marathon from its own coffers after being sent from pillar to post by the corporate world.
Besides the 42.2km event, this year's event on November 6 there will also feature a 10km wheelchair race, 10km run/walk, 10km professional walk and a 5km fun run.
The winners of the men's and women's sections of the standard marathon will each pocket R100000.
"The Soweto Marathon has the potential to finance itself too," said ASA board member Hendrick Ramaala.
"I have never participated in the Soweto Marathon because it clashes with the New York Marathon in the United States of America but people always have great things to say about it.
"The atmosphere is electrifying on the route because the community is highly involved, some of them are volunteering at water points.
"We are talking here about the only standard marathon in a black residential area.
"We need to pull up our socks and take it to another level.
"I hope one day it will attract more than 50000 people like the London Marathon, Berlin Marathon and New York Marathon - events which pay loads of money."
Soweto race could be huge
ATHLETICS South Africa is hoping to get sponsorship to grow the Soweto Marathon into one of the big road running events on the continent.
The event has been without a sponsorship following the withdrawal of Nebank in 2009 after the Caster Semenya gender debacle.
For the past two years, ASA has been funding this celebrated 42.2km marathon from its own coffers after being sent from pillar to post by the corporate world.
Besides the 42.2km event, this year's event on November 6 there will also feature a 10km wheelchair race, 10km run/walk, 10km professional walk and a 5km fun run.
The winners of the men's and women's sections of the standard marathon will each pocket R100000.
"The Soweto Marathon has the potential to finance itself too," said ASA board member Hendrick Ramaala.
"I have never participated in the Soweto Marathon because it clashes with the New York Marathon in the United States of America but people always have great things to say about it.
"The atmosphere is electrifying on the route because the community is highly involved, some of them are volunteering at water points.
"We are talking here about the only standard marathon in a black residential area.
"We need to pull up our socks and take it to another level.
"I hope one day it will attract more than 50000 people like the London Marathon, Berlin Marathon and New York Marathon - events which pay loads of money."
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