Global Run Valletta 2016 Route Unveiled for Runners and Walkers

Runners and walkers are invited to take part in the inaugural edition of Global Run Valletta 2016, which celebrates the beauty of the capital and raises funds for Puttinu Cares.

Stephen Xuereb showing the Global Run Valletta route to (from left) Victor Calvagna, Chris Agius and Gavin Gulia.

Being organised next Sunday by Global Ports Holding – the world’s largest cruise port operator and the majority shareholder in Valletta Cruise Port – GRV 2016 will feature a 10-kilometre run, a five-kilometre run and a five-kilometre walk on a course that starts and finishes at the Valletta Waterfront.

Registration for the 10K and 5K is open to all people aged over 18, while the 5K walk is open to anyone born till 2011. The fee for the 10K run is €10, €5 for the five-kilometre run, and €5 for the 5K walk. Registration can be completed on www.globalrunvalletta.com.

Each participant who completes the route – whether running or walking – is awarded a unique medal especially minted for this occasion.

However, medals are not the only recognition as the top runners will take home awards based on the categories of 10K and 5K but also by age-groups.

In the general category of 10K and 5K, the top five men and top five women will receive the awards and in the age category, the top three winners will be awarded in the following groups: 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-plus, with ages calculated as on the day of the race. As an added incentive, an athlete who wins an award from the general category will not be eligible for an award in the age groups.

Families with toddlers in pushchairs and trikes are particularly welcomed for the 5K walk. The celebrations and fun activities related to the race will get underway a day earlier, on October 29, when race kits can also be picked up. Both the events on Saturday and next Sunday are family-oriented.

This high-quality event will be held in accordance with the regulations of the International Association of Athletics Federation and the Malta Amateur Athletics Association, whose president, Edwin Attard, said: “‘Running for All’ is a major target adopted by European Athletics, our parent body, to achieve its noble objective, making athletics a sport for life. What better way to give value to these healthy activities than adding the picturesque backdrop of our magnificent Grand Harbour and the contours of our historic, capital city. At the Malta Amateur Athletics Association, we aim to make this event an annual feature of the sporting calendar and an international appointment on the European Calendar.”

“Puttinu Cares works hard to ease the suffering of children and their families who are undergoing cancer treatment. Every month, 90 patients require further treatment in the UK. Puttinu provides the necessary accommodation with stays that can stretch for weeks, months and even years for both patients and relatives. We are very proud to be working together with Global Run Valletta in this initiative so that we will continue with our mission,” said Victor Calvagna, president of the Puttinu Cares Foundation.

“Valletta embodies the great spirit of discovery, culture, and diversity – values that drive Global Ports Holding in connecting millions of cruise passengers at its 12 ports in eight countries. Our aim is to make Global Run a hallmark event at all of our port destinations,” said Global Ports Holding CEO Emre Sayin.

“Valletta is widely searched and recognised in the world of tourism. Through Global Run Valletta, Global Ports Holding wants an event that celebrates the beauty of Valletta but also propels the city for the first time into the world of sport,” said Stephen Xuereb, chief operating officer of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port.

Malta Tourism Authority chairman Gavin Gulia said: “Sport tourism is becoming an increasingly important component of our tourism product. Together with the Tourism Ministry and various stakeholders in the private sector, the MTA has been actively promoting this segment in its varied disciplines. We welcome this new event and look forward to seeing it grow in the years to come.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, Chris Agius, said GRV was another initiative demonstrating the importance that sport plays in Malta. “The government welcomed such initiatives by the private sector. Sport brings people from different walks of life together while also instilling values not found in other activities,” he said.