The Wings for Life World Run will take place in Zadar and 11 other cities around the world on May 6, 2018.
At today’s press conference in Zadar, Wings for Life World Run organizing committee members joined Zadar’s Mayor Branko Dukić, Head of the Police Department Božidar Budiš, and Director of the Sports Center ‘Višnjik Denis’ Karlović to announce the fifth Wings for Life World Run, reports Gol.hr on May 3, 2018.
On Sunday, May 6 at 13:00 on the Zadar coast, a record number of runners will join the Wings for Life World Run. Precisely, 8500 runners in Zadar will simultaneously kick off with other runners in 11 different locations in the world to help achieve the goal of this beautiful story: to find a cure for spinal cord injury. The only way to help find a cure for spinal cord injury is to invest funds into scientific and clinical research, which is why the start amounts and donations are intended for the Wings for Life Foundation, which deals directly with spinal cord research. Over the past four years, this global movement has generated 20.6 million euro for the most up-to-date research.
Members of the Wings for Life World Run organization, Iva Milevoj and Zoran Kosanović, thanked all citizens of Zadar, the city services and the Police Departments of Zadar and Šibenik. Special thanks were given to volunteers, which will boast more than 1000 this year and will be involved in almost every aspect of the race – from distributing start numbers and wardrobe work to working at stations along the entire racing route.
“The volunteers are the people who are never in first place, but are essential for the race and allow it to pass in the best way,” Zoran Kosanović emphasized.
Božidar Budiša thanked the organizers for hosting the race in Zadar and discovered that the safety guidelines have been in negotiations for several months and is also convinced that everything will run smoothly. From blocking off roads for drivers to taking care of the safety of all the participants, the schedule of road closures in the city on May 6th can be found on the official site of PU Zadar.
“The experiences of the past years have been very positive. Our citizens have seriously joined the race as well and listen to our instructions,” said Božidar Budiš.
Putting the focus on the safety of the participants in the race, the organizer emphasized that, along with the police, the safety of the runners and spectators would be overseen by 200 security guards. The runners have been asked to listen to the organizer’s instructions and orders and pay particular attention to the participants in wheelchairs, as this year will see over 40. Also, to avoid the crowds on Sunday, the organizers told the runners that they should pick up their start numbers on Saturday.
Mayor Branko Dukić expressed his pride and satisfaction that the city of Zadar will host the Wings for Life World Run race for the fifth time and hoped that the start on the Liburnija coast would enable an increase in competitors.
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“For the race, we have not only received 30,000 runners who have been running in Zadar for the past few years, but citizens have also been sensitized to the humanitarian action, as is seen in the growth of the number of volunteers. The city of Zadar has become a city of new life, a new rhythm, and many citizens have started running and keeping a healthy life, which is seen by the growing number of sporting events, as well as sports associations,” Dukić said, adding that the race is seen as an excellent introduction to the tourist season for Zadar in 2018.
Denis Karlović invited all participants to this humanitarian and sporting event to prepare for the race in the renovated sports center ‘Višnjik’, which opens on Friday, May 4th. Visitors will be able to have fun with a music program on Friday night and various sports competitions on Saturday.
“We are extremely proud that we will host all Zadar citizens and those arriving in Zadar,” Karlović said, and emphasized that the start of the race is in sync with the completion of the second phase of the sports center ‘Višnjik’. New trails, an outdoor exercise hall, forum and landscaping have been included in the renovation, including LED lighting.
This weekend, good moods and positive energy will unite thousands of people to run for those who cannot. This certainly sheds a beautiful light on Zadar that will be sent out to the world including Rio de Janeiro, Melbourne, Vienna, Munich and other cities. The race will be broadcast by dozens of television channels around the world, and the Croatian race can be seen live at Nova TV and dnevnik.hr.
