New mountain and trail running series in Kenya set for January start
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 19.12.24. | 14:42
The series will feature six mountain and trail running events across Kenya's unique landscapes
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) and Athletics Kenya (AK) have partnered to launch a series of mountain and trail running events aimed at positioning Kenya as a sports and adventure destination.
The series dubbed the 'Magical Kenya Mountain & Trail Series' will kick off with the Barngetuny Mountain Run that is hosted in Nandi County and set for Saturday 18 January 2025.
Speaking during the launch event in Nairobi, Tourism PS John Ololtua said that Kenya, known as the home of running and world beaters, has the potential to attract additional tourists by tapping into the mountain and trail series which also gives opportunity for youth to exploit their talent as well as promote the local economies where the trail takes place.
"This Magical Kenya Mountain and Trail Series aligns with our broader strategy of positioning Kenya as a multi-experience destination, catering to diverse interests and preferences," he said.
"We are confident that this series will become a flagship event, drawing visitors from around the globe and contributing significantly to our tourism economy."
During the event, KTB and AK also signed a partnership that will see both organizations collaborate to promote Kenya as a premier destination for sports and adventure.
AK president Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei expressed his excitement saying; “We are glad to partner on this trail series which runs across various mountain trails and counties.
We can use these mountain runs and trails to train our athletes to compete in the World Mountain and Trail Running Championship while also positioning Kenya to host one of the events in the global series.
We already have over 20 medals in the championships and will use the Tinderet Barng'etuny Mountain Run to select the athletes who will represent Kenya in the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships."
The Magical Kenya Mountain & Trail Series will feature six mountain and trail running events across Kenya's unique landscapes, including the Barng'etuny Mountain Run, Nyamira Great Run Edition in May, Mt. Kenya Mountain Run Edition in June, Aberdare’s Trail Run Edition in August, Mt. Longonot Edition in November and the Elgon Run in December.
KTB CEO June Chepkemei said that the collaboration was a significant milestone in the board's efforts to diversify Kenya's tourism offering and tapping into the lucrative sports tourism markets.
She added that it would be a game changer attracting both international sports enthusiasts and domestic tourists.
"Kenya is endowed with breathtaking landscapes, from majestic mountains to pristine trails, which provide the perfect backdrop for adventure and sports," said Chepkemei.
"By partnering with AK and launching this Mountain and trail series we aim to leverage our international stature as a sports giant to market our destination as well as attract more tourists to Kenya."
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