Richmond Group Launches Virtual European Race

After organizing a virtual race across the United States, Sports Backers in Richmond, Virginia, has announced the launch of the Great European 2500. The event, which will be a virtual race across destinations in Europe, will run October 3 – December 3. Teams will be able to register for the 2,500-kilometer run that will go through pre-selected sites through the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria and Slovakia, before finishing in Budapest, Hungary.

Teams of six, 12, or 24 members will collectively run to cover the course each day and an online map and live leaderboard will track each group’s virtual progress and provide a real-time display of the race standings. Divisions will include male, female and coed teams and the first team to virtually “reach” the finish line in Budapest will be declared the winner.

Each destination that runners come across will have information about historic and cultural landmarks.

The event comes on the heels of the sports commission’s Great American 5000, which was a similar format that virtually took participants to destinations across the United States from the state of Washington to Washington, D.C.

“We are excited to launch the Great European 2500 to provide an opportunity for people to connect with teammates, feel the excitement of competing together in a race, and bring the beauty, history, and culture of Europe directly to participants,” said Molly Johnson, event director for Sports Backers. “We hope the event makes the dream of running across Europe a little more real while creating memorable experiences for teammates to share with each other.”

Participants will have the opportunity to donate to Sports Backers during the registration process or use their platform to raise money during event.

“Sports Backers’ mission to encourage health and wellness through active living is more important now than it’s ever been,” said Jon Lugbill, executive director of Sports Backers. “Physical activity provides so many benefits and we believe all people deserve access to active living. We continue to serve that mission by offering innovative and inspirational opportunities like the Great European 2500 to keep people healthy, strong and moving.”