On Friday, July 10, the Holi Run will arrive for the first time on the Côte d’Azur, in Villeneuve-Loubet. A running event over five or ten kilometers during which participants will be colored by jets of powder in different colors along the route. During the presentation of the event this morning, the organizers emphasized the festive nature of the race.
Friendliness and fun, these are the values of the Holi Run Côte d’Azur according to the organizers. In charge of organizing the race, Pascal Thiriot, President of Azur Sport Organisation (ASO), announces their aim: “We want to get people moving, to party”. ASO is not new to the art of leisure sports: last February, the organization enabled 3,300 people to run in costume during the third edition of the Carnival Run in Nice. In ten days, there will be almost as many participants being showered with powder, a harmless substance according to the Mayor of the host city, Lionel Luca. “There is no risk, it’s just starch with colored pigments,” he reassures.
An event that attracts more than just athletes
Every kilometer traveled, the joggers will turn red, blue, green, yellow, and pink thanks (or due?) to the volunteers present in large numbers. Moreover, Pascal Thiriot has noticed the enthusiasm generated by the Holi Run: “We initially planned for 2,500 registrations and were supposed to advertise on the radio. In the end, word of mouth and social media were enough. The 160 volunteers also quickly signed up after a single recruitment call on Facebook, in one afternoon. Much more than for the half-marathon, for example,” he adds with a smile. And never mind those more daring who came only for performance during the 10 kilometers: “They are timed, but that won’t prevent our sprayers from slowing them down a bit,” he announces with a hint of mischief.
After the effort, it’s time to party
But the Holi Run is not just limited to the race. Upon their arrival, joggers will receive their 100-gram sachet of colored powder. A quantity that should be enough to “have a good time” and, who knows, to get revenge on the volunteers during the Holi Party that will follow. On the menu: music with a DJ, dancing… and powder. An original concept of combining sports and entertainment that already makes ASO, the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet, and his Deputy for Sports, Jean-Paul Bulgaridhes, eager to renew the experience of the color run in the long term.
