The organisers of the 88th International Nijmegen Four Days Marches in 2004 have decided to limit the total number of registered participants to a maximum of 47,000. Moreover, only 5,000 participants will be allowed to walk the so-called ‘diploma’ distance of 30 kilometers a day. Late registration for the world’s biggest walking event is also being abolished. Apart from these changes, the event’s usual formula will remain unchanged.
The purpose of the restriction is to safeguard the enjoyment of the tens of thousands of people who take part in the walk. It will also make it easier for the organisers to maintain safety and public order.
Upper limit reached
The number of participants registering for the International Nijmegen Four Days Marches has grown enormously in recent years. The latest edition in July, 2003 recorded an explosive growth in the number of walkers, with over 47,000 people registering. 44,812 actually turned up at the start-line, which was over 5,000 more than the year before."Forty-five thousand is about as much as we can accommodate," was the conclusion reached by the executive board, based on the findings of a detailed report compiled by a special committee. "More people along the route itself and at the start and finish points will simply detract from everyone’s enjoyment. What’s more, if we admitted any more participants, we’d no longer be able to properly manage them or guarantee their safety – in other words, we couldn’t ensure a completely trouble-free approach to public order."
By limiting the number of registered participants to 47,000, the organisers expect a maximum of 45,000 or so walkers to turn up at the start-line. Wim Jansen: "Experience has taught us that between 3 and 4 per cent of those who’ve registered don’t turn up. That means we can allow up to 47,000 to actually register."
Familiar formula unchanged
The key elements of the Four Days March include the route that takes walkers through the 12 municipalities on the course, the start and finish areas on the Wedren in Nijmegen city centre together with the associated start and finish times, the 30, 40 and 50 kilometre distances and the party atmosphere that accompanies the triumphant finish along the "Via Gladiola"."These are so much part of the Four Days Marches that you couldn’t alter them without compromising the whole event. So we decided to keep the formula itself intact," says general manager Wim Jansen, explaining the reasons behind the decision.
"Diploma" distance
Another way of creating more room was to limit the number of people who are allowed to walk the so-called "diploma" distance to a maximum of 5,000 (compared with 6,200 in 2003). These participants walk a shorter 30K trail regardless of their age."The Four Days Marches have always traditionally been a performance event attracting official royal recognition in the form of a small award. Over the years, we’ve introduced the so-called diploma distances, mainly to give newcomers the chance to familiarise themselves with the route. Because they weren’t walking the regulation distance that corresponded with their age, they were given a diploma rather than an official medal. By imposing an upper limit on the diploma participants, we’re hoping to persuade more people to go back to doing the regulation distance. We want to keep the try-out option open, but for a limited number of participants."
The 88th International Nijmegen Four Days Marches will take place from 20 to 23 July 2004. Registration opens on 2 February 2004.
More information at: Nijmegen Four Days Marches or call 00 31 (0)24 365 55 75.
