Zug, Switzerland – Infront Sports & Media, a Wanda Sports company, is expanding the corporate running series B2Run to Poland. The first race is planned for 2018 with five race locations across the country expected to launch within the next three years.
With the addition of Poland to the series, B2Run will stage events across eight countries in 2018 including Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland. The new addition of Poland demonstrates the continued success of the format and rapid growth of the B2Run series.
The events in Poland will be planned and managed by domestic agency Evolutio. Its owners Marcin Herra and Andrzej Bogucki are known for running the National Stadium in Warsaw in the past and have significant experience in the acquisition of sponsors as well as in venue and event management. Their long-standing experience will ensure the growth of the platform across the country.
35 per cent of Polish population enjoys running
From a running standpoint, Poland's potential is promising since out of a population of close to 40 million, 12 million Poles are already running. In Poland, running attracts all ages, genders and is especially popular among the corporate population. As a growing number of Poles make running their hobby, businesses are increasingly willing to step up their engagement with running events as well.
Seizing the momentum
With its unique brand and format, B2Run is ideally placed to seize the momentum to make running even more popular in Poland. This will be accomplished by satisfying the needs of the local suburban population and by providing authentic forms of engagement to Polish companies and major international corporations in Poland alike.
As the most popular race distance of Polish runners lies between 5 and 10 kilometres, the average B2Run race length of approximately 6 kilometres is set to appeal to the majority of runners in Poland. With around 20 modern stadiums in existence in Poland and new stadiums and arenas scheduled to open in 2017 and 2018 across the country, the necessary modern infrastructure is provided for.
Andrzej Bogucki, co-owner of Evolutio, said: “We are very happy and excited to partner with Infront in delivering a new format of business runs in Poland and becoming a member of the international B2Run family. We are convinced that the concept of B2Run will gain great popularity not only amongst international companies but domestic ones as well. The opportunity to compete against colleagues from Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and South Africa will be an additional value.”
“Poles love to run and they prove it every day. With the B2Run format we bring business runs in Poland to a new level and create new opportunities and chances not only in sports competition but in business growth as well” added Marcin Herra.
Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Director Active Lifestyle & Endurance at Infront: “We are proud of the growth and popularity that B2Run has gauged in the past few years and it is reassuring that in Poland we have an agency partner of Evolutio’s calibre on board. I am confident of B2Run's success in Poland as more than 35 per cent of Poles already have a passion for running. This number and the number of Poles participating in races is set to increase with B2Run's arrival.”
About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media, a Wanda Sports company, is one of the most respected sports marketing companies in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production, event operation and digital solutions – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 170 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Group, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.
About Wanda Sports
Wanda Sports is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Led by President & Vice Chairman Philippe Blatter, Wanda Sports incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.
