Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Non-profit organisation Sportaround urges Golazo and Ghent city to lower participation fees for the Ghent Marathon, with Bert Misplon and Bashir Abdi supporting wider access for financially disadvantaged runners.
As VRT News reported, the Ghent non-profit Sportaround calls for wider marathon access is calling on Golazo, the company that organises the Ghent Marathon, to make the event affordable for everyone. Sportaround says people from all social and economic backgrounds should have the chance to take part in the race.
Bert Misplon of Sportaround explained that Golazo is a commercial company, so making a profit is their main goal.
“It makes sense that Golazo focuses on business success,”
he said.
“But it would be positive if they did more to allow everyone to participate.”
Marathon runner Bashir Abdi is also part of Sportaround and supports the call for wider access. He says running should be open to all, regardless of financial situation.
What steps will Sportaround and Golazo take to make the Ghent Marathon inclusive?
Sportaround works closely with Golazo and describes the cooperation as constructive. One example is that Golazo encourages marathon participants to donate to Sportaround. These donations help the non-profit fund programs that give children, young people, and underserved communities better access to sports. Misplon said the partnership shows that commercial events can also have a social impact.
“Our message shouldn’t be seen as criticism, but rather as a proposal to further improve our collaboration,”
Misplon said.
Bert Misplon of the non-profit organisation Sportaround called on the organisers to meet with the city to discuss participation fees for people who face financial difficulties.
“I definitely think it would be good if the organisation sat down with the city to ensure that the participation fees aren’t too high for people struggling financially,”
Misplon said.
He suggested providing individual discounts to those in need. He also recommended working with local organisations to reach more people.
“That way, you can reach a large group of people at once and give more individuals the opportunity to participate,”
he added.
“For example, you could reserve tickets for members of social organisations and prepare them for a marathon.”
Bert Misplon
The city of Ghent confirmed that a meeting with the marathon organiser Golazo is planned later this year. Discussions at the meeting will include participation fees. Both Golazo and city officials declined to comment before the meeting takes place.
According to Misplon, as a race organiser,
“you can reach people by collaborating closely with a local social organisation. You could, for example, reserve tickets for members of that organisation and work with them to develop a program to prepare them for a marathon.”
The Sofico Gent Marathon held its first edition on October 28, 2017, organised by Belgian ultramarathoner Stefaan Engels in his hometown of Ghent. Since then, the event has grown steadily, becoming one of Belgium’s major spring sports events.
In 2020, the marathon partnered with Ghent-based software company Sofico, which led to the event being renamed the Sofico Gent Marathon. The race has also supported the non-profit Sportaround, founded in 2013, which works to increase access to sports for children and underserved communities.
