When American writer Tom Benner attempted to understand Singapore’s road to multiculturalism for The Fair Observer.com, he decided that nations like the U.S. could learn a thing or two about racial and religious harmony by turning to Singapore.
“As an American, I watch from afar where I live in Singapore, one of the most racially and religiously diverse nations in the world.” His wise analysis shows the world that while this city-state may be young, it is learning to deal intelligently with this sensitive topic. Toward that end, the upcoming Racial Harmony Online Race 2019 are putting this subject front and center.
About the Racial Harmony Online Race
Can the sport of running help Singapore’s Herculean efforts to heal racial divides? Organiser of the Racial Harmony Online Race hope so since seven in 10 citizens say they are more focused on personal success and less on race and ethnicity, say Channel NewsAsia and Institute of Policy Studies researchers.
What better way to support this important movement than by finding a recreational avenue that draws from runners who identify as Chinese, Malay, Indian, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim or Hindu?
Interested athletes can sign up at Spacebib, set a distance goal and then amass those kilometers between 21 July (Singapore’s official Racial Harmony Day) and 5 August 2019, using whatever method participants prefer: trail, street or track running or walking.
Online runners use GPS-enabled apps/devices/treadmills to keep track of distances as they accumulate them and there are no restrictions placed on where and when a participant can run up his numbers. Simply upload each distance to the Spacebib website and totals will be computed as they are input.
What you should know
First and foremost, Racial Harmony Online Race want Singaporeans to have fun and stay safe, especially zealots out to perform at top speed whose desire to meet self-imposed distance goals can be distracted by weather, traffic and other hazards. It’s particularly important for every participant to prioritize integrity and honour. Given this online race’s philosophy, cheating would be an affront to the nation.
Since this race is not a competition, participants race against themselves, though running clubs and groups may hold each other accountable for totals and interject enough healthy competition to make things interesting.
Each runner’s record will be evaluated so awards can be sent out to those completing their goals.
Yes, participants are rewarded in traditional ways
Despite the nature of an online run, those undertaking the Racial Harmony Online Race will receive event t-shirts and finisher medals that are dependent upon which category they chose. Since the t-shirt is to be produced in very limited quantities, it’s important to reserve one at the earliest opportunity.
Both the medal and the t-shirt are highly stylised, but it’s the medals themselves that will distinguish participants by accomplishment. Individual 42km victors receive antique gold-coloured medals; 21km finishers earn antique silver medals and antique bronze medals have been commissioned for those finishing their 10km goal.
It will take a bit of time for both Singaporeans and participants who live abroad to get their race entitlements, but that may not matter to those who love the idea behind this race and are focused on achieving personal goals.
3 good reasons to be part of this symbolic race
- Because anyone who likes to run and finds online events the perfect answer to busy schedules can run when and where they like.
- Because wearing the beautiful red limited-edition t-shirt into the future shows the world how strongly one feels about racial harmony.
- Because participants control everything: when, where and how they rack up distances, what they wear and how they perform. It is the ultimate win-win event, for all of the right reasons.
Can you add to this list by coming up with your unique reason for wanting to prioritise racial equality as a way to further your own commitment to this important movement?
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