Reunion 5K to take place on Saturday 15 May at Kempton Park
London Marathon Events (LME) announced today (Tuesday) that the Reunion 5K, one of the pilot events in the government’s Events Research Programme, will take place on Saturday 15 May.
The event will be held at Kempton Park, Surrey, and consist of three separate 5K races on the day. The format has been designed in conjunction with the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) to provide scientific data on how mass participation events can safely resume as part of the roadmap out of lockdown from 21 June.
LME is also working closely with Public Health England, Surrey County Council, Spelthorne Borough Council and other key local stakeholders in the planning of the event which has further support from the Mass Participation Sports Organisers (MSO), the collective of the UK’s leading mass participation event organisers.
The aim of the Reunion 5K is to provide scientific data from participants, spectators and staff which can be used to inform DCMS in planning for the safe return of mass participation sport and events.
Everyone attending the event (participants, spectators and staff) will be required to provide a negative Covid-19 Lateral Flow Test ahead of the event in order to gain entry. Attendees will also be asked to undertake a PCR test both before and after attending the event in order to assist the programme’s research.
Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events, said: “We are very grateful to DCMS, Public Health England, Surrey County Council and Spelthorne Borough Council for their assistance and to Kempton Park for making the venue available on 15 May. The government’s Event Research Programme is a very significant step towards the safe return of events for participant and spectators and London Marathon Events, along with our fellow mass participation event organisers, is doing everything we can to assist the government with this project.”
Ruth Hutchinson, Surrey’s Director of Public Health, said: “We are pleased to be involved in supporting these test events, that will provide important data about the impact of different types of sporting gatherings as we come out of Covid restrictions. Surrey County Council’s public health and emergency planning teams will be on hand throughout the planning and delivery of these events to ensure they are as safe and enjoyable as possible. It’s encouraging that we’re looking forward to doing the things we love, but getting all the evidence to do it as safely as possible. And of course, we all need to remember that hands, face, space and fresh air are all still essential to keep Surrey safe.”
Jennifer Medcraff, Head of Communications at Spelthorne Borough Council said: “The local borough is working with our health partners to safely support this event and the wider recovery of the events sector."
LME is planning to have 3,000 participants and up to 3,000 spectators in each of the three races at the Reunion 5K which will all be configured slightly differently to capture the most data. Participants, spectators and staff must agree to undergo a Covid-19 test both before and after the event. Anyone who testing positive before the event will not be able to attend and, in the case of participants, their entry fee will be refunded.
LME's registration system partner njuko is providing the entry system at no cost. Matt Trevett, Partnerships Manager at njuko, said: "The njuko team is proud to play its part in the Events Research Programme and to support the organisation of the Reunion 5K."
Entries are now open. Entry for runners costs £15 to cover the costs of organising the event and all finishers will receive a medal. The event is free of charge to registered spectators.
