Downtown Kingston abuzz with activities in preparation for Sunday’s EU-JA 5K

A flurry of activities has taken over downtown Kingston in preparation for the staging of the inaugural EU-JA 5K Run on Sunday at 6:30 a.m. A warm-up session will begin half-an-hour before start time in the car park of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Port Royal Street.

Registration closed yesterday and Alfred ‘Frano’ France, race director, said, “The response has been good and we are encouraged by the numbers.” Groups from identified communities downtown Kingston and from other affiliated community projects supported by the European Union (EU) delegation in Jamaica have been invited to participate as a symbol of the approach by the delegation to fight crime and violence through collaboration and inclusivity. In addition, several members of the diplomatic corps and national leaders have registered to participate. Race patron is media personality and social media influencer Miss Kitty.

“The EU has sponsored the registration of 500 persons from various community groups with which we have been engaged through social programmes led by the Citizen Security Programme. So it is fitting that the proceeds from the race day should go to funding the Kingston High School’s summer literacy programme,” said Ambassador Marianne Van Steen, head of the European Union delegation to Jamaica.

INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS

She reiterated that the aim of the race, under the theme, ‘All Together Against Crime and Violence’, was to increase public awareness of the partnership between the delegation of the European Union and Jamaica, which are working together to tackle the challenges of crime and violence in Jamaica, among other issues.

The race route will expose the runners and walkers to downtown Kingston’s rich cultural heritage including the art walk and coastal board walk, with music playing along the course.

Ambassador Van Steen expressed appreciation for the support of Corporate Jamaica including: St. Mary’s, Mountain Peak, Recycling Partners, Cal’s Manufacturing, King Alarm, Running Events Jamaica, Kingston Creative, TVJ, Radio Jamaica, HITZ, The Best Dressed Chicken and Catherine’s Peak Spring Water.

The 5-kilometre (3.1 miles) road race will start at the corner of Port Royal Street and George’s Lane and finish at the corner of Port Royal and Hanover Streets. All roads leading to and from the race route will be closed to vehicular traffic at 6:15 a.m. and reopen at 8 a.m.

Persons registered for the EU-JA 5K race can collect their race day packs, including a T-shirt, from the offices of the European Union at 8A Fairway Avenue, Kingston 5 today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. No race package will be handed out on race day, Sunday, March 12. A number of car parks downtown Kingston will be available free of cost to participants.

The first 2,000 to cross the finish line will receive medals and there will be live entertainment to celebrate the staging of the event.