UK Sport and parkrun organise mass participation event day

A day of mass participation running is being organised by UK Sport and parkrun to coincide with London hosting the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

The #teamparkrun events will be held across the UK a week after the championships finish on 19 August, with the aim of getting more people involved in sport and physical activity.

UK Sport – the elite sport funding body – hopes the event has the same traction as last year’s I am Team GB, where nearly one million people took part in sport around the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The initiative is also being backed by Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales, Sport Northern Ireland, the British Olympic Association, the British Paralympic Association and number of sports governing bodies.

As a thank you for the support of the nation – particularly those who purchase National Lottery tickets, which contributes to funding streams – athletes will act as volunteers, helping those struggling with the run.

More than 630 parkruns (5km) and junior parkruns (2km) take place every week across the UK.

Dame Katherine Grainger, chair of UK Sport, said #teamparkrun was an opportunity to make those who think of physical activity as a “scary prospect”, particularly newcomers, “extra welcome”.

“This initiative, which will see GB athletes supporting parkrunners, will reinforce the message that not only do we encourage walkers at parkrun, but that all of our events have volunteer Tail Walkers who provide support along the course,” added parkrun chief executive Nick Pearson.