The Sports Service of the City of Geneva confirms its support for the Course de l’Escalade

Titre (affichage FO)

Course de l'Escalade

Image

Every December, Geneva comes alive to celebrate the historic, not-to-be-missed event that is l’Escalade.

A historic race

The history of the Course de l’Escalade is part of the popular athletics revolution that began back in the 1970s. This sporting event was dreamed up by the committee of the Stade Genève, a Geneva-based athletics club, in order to breathe new life into the club while creating a different means of commemorating l’Escalade.

On 16 December 1978, some 805 registered runners lined up for the very first Course de l’Escalade. Nobody could have foreseen the popular success this event would enjoy in the years to come. The race quickly became popular with the public, who would line the streets of the old town. A road race combined with a popular celebration which would quickly become the largest event of its kind in Switzerland, incorporating new events over time including children’s races (junior school, junior high, senior high), adult races (by block, mixed, “Escaladélite”, “Fleximix” and relay), the fancy-dress “Marmite” and the “Walking”. From 2018, due to the growing number of participants, the event was extended and is now held over two days ensuring increased comfort, greater security and new services for the both the runners and the volunteers. In 2019, the 42nd edition brought together more than 46,000 registered participants, illustrating the undeniable popular success of this sporting Event.

Subsidy agreement

In order to consolidate and sustain the quality of the event in its current format, the City of Geneva and the Course de l'Escalade organisation committee signed a new subsidy agreement on Monday 17 February of this year. This document also clarifies the commitments of the two entities while ensuring that future editions can be organised in total peace of mind in order to create an event which is very clearly a part of the long-term life of our city.

Sami Kanaan is pleased “to be able to promise the public authorities’ support for the legendary and highly popular Course de l’Escalade, which has brought together thousands of devotees since it was first organised 42 years ago, be they competitors of every age or the faithful volunteers who play an essential and quite extraordinary role.” Jerry Maspoli, President of the Association de la Course de l'Escalade, stresses the importance of “this excellent collaboration with the Sports Service of the City of Geneva, because its substantial support has enabled, and will continue enabling, this sporting event to adapt to the increasing demands and to welcome sportspeople from all walks of life and of every level, young and old alike, by offering races for everyone and properly acknowledging the event’s precious volunteers.”