THE Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) officially handed over state of the art track timing equipment to the provincial athletics federation, KwaZulu-Natal Athletics in Durban on Tuesday this week as part of its Corporate Social Investment programme.

Briefing the media, CMA Chairperson, Sifiso Nzuza said this handover of electronic timing equipment to the provincial athletics mother body signifies the decades’ long relationship of cooperation and support between KZNA and the CMA.

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With the CMA being a non-profit organisation affiliated to Athletics South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal Athletics, it is bound by its respective constitutions to use surplus funds derived out of the staging of the Comrades Marathon to invest in projects directly related to the development, upliftment and promotion of the sport of athletics. 

In supporting its provincial athletics structure, the CMA has over the years been involved in several projects in allocating its CSI funds towards the furthering of athletics development. The CMA’s contribution towards the purchase of electronic timing equipment goes hand in hand with its involvement in the hosting and funding of a technical officials course.

The electronic timing equipment, valued at 350-thousand rand, will offer more efficient and accurate production of results as well as a faster turnaround time; thereby assisting with the instant issuing of race results to the media and spectators at track events.

With these timing systems in place, event organisers can quickly sync results with race timing software and get the athlete’s data published on the event’s website and app or sent off to them via email, or even shared on social media.

As the CMA, we are committed to contributing to the advancement of athletics in South Africa. Through initiatives like these, the Comrades Marathon aims to benefit as many races and the overall sport of athletics, enabling the staging of a higher quality of events and adding to the greater good through skills transfer and other meaningful ways – Sifiso Nzuza

KZNA President Sello Mokoena thanked the CMA for its contribution to athletics development saying, “We are grateful indeed for the donation of track timing equipment and the CMA’s commitment to athletics in the province.”

Statement issued by the Comrades Marathon Association’s Media Officer, Delaine Cools