Dam to Dam Run grows to 40,000 runners! – Room for 5,000 more participants –

The Dam to Dam Run has been The Netherlands’ largest running event for years. Organiser Le Champion and the municipalities of Amsterdam and Zaanstad are proud to announce that on Sunday, September 18, 5,000 additional runners can take part in the race.  This is great news, because now more people can take part in the unique atmosphere of the Dam to Dam Run. With 40,000 runners, the 27th edition will be a special one.

In recent years, demand for bib numbers for the Dam to Dam Run has been many times greater than the number available. In 2010 places for the 10 mile (16.1 km) race were sold out within two hours. An unprecedented record in running. By providing 5,000 additional places Le Champion is hoping to have gone some way to meeting the increase in demand.

“Thanks to our good working relationship with Zaanstad and Amsterdam, we are able to realise the increase in participants”, says director Simone Richardson. "We are very pleased to be able to accommodate more runners at our event. It is important that the unique atmosphere of the Dam to Dam Run is maintained and that everyone can participate safely."

Mayor Geke Faber explains: "The Dam to Dam Run is the most important sporting event of Zaanstad. Every year our city hosts the event with much pleasure. The request to extend the number of participants is well researched and it appears that with the right measures the Dam to Dam Run, also with more participants, can continue as a fun and safe event.

To be able to accommodate a larger number of participants it is important that we continue to create a safe environment for the 40,000 runners and the approximately 200,000 visitors. Which is why, in 2010, an independent study into all aspects of safety was carried out by the COT Institute for Safety and Crisis Management on behalf of the municipality Zaanstad. The COT concluded in its report that the Dam to Dam Run would be able to grow responsibly to 40,000 participants and the municipality of Zaanstad has taken this advice onboard.

Entry for Dam to Dam Run opens on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 09.00 am.

Runners can enter via www.damloop.nl.

The organisers expect all places to be sold out within days.

Simone Richardson