UK to host more parkrun events

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Sport England has announced a three-million-pound (about 3.8 million US dollars) investment to create 200 new parkrun events in the country over the next three years to increase participation among women and people with lower income.

Parkrun allows more than 800 communities in Britain to host free, "socially-focused" five-kilometer running events every weekend in public areas of open space.

"This important partnership with parkrun is part of Sport England's ongoing strategy to help grow new and innovative sporting ideas and broaden their reach into the demographics in society who are least likely to be active," Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said in a statement.

Participants in a parkrun event at Bushy Park in London, August 2, 2014. /VCG Photo

The funding will boost parkrun's digital platform for registrations, results and event information.

"We know from our research that cost and a lack of local opportunities are real barriers in stopping people being more active, and what parkrun does brilliantly is offer free, community-based events for all abilities," Hollingsworth added.

Since parkrun's inception in 2004, 1.8 million people of all ages in Britain have participated in the event that helps people add a sporting activity to their lifestyle.

Currently, parkrun is operating in 20 countries across five continents, with around 200,000 people taking part and a further 20,000 volunteering every week.

Source(s): Reuters