USAIN BOLT INVITES YOU TO RUN FOR YOUR COUNTRY

The Vitality Running World Cup (VRWC) today announced the kick-off of a mass running movement designed to encourage people to Move More and get more active. Taking place in 2020, from 5th March –5th April, the Vitality Running World Cup gives everyone the chance to represent their country in an annual,free-to-enter, knockout, global running competition.

Open to anyone,every participant who completes 3 kilometres in under 30 minutes on a smartphone or fitness device contributes towards their country’s total.Participation is free by signing-up at www.runningworldcup.com.

Three iconic Olympic Gold medallists have been named as country captains for the VRWC, each encouraging their respective nations to lace up and take part. The eight-time gold medallist and Usain Bolt will captain Jamaica, the 2012 Olympic gold medallistand Vitality Ambassador for the UK,Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill will captain the UK,and Rio 2016 Champion and Discovery Vitality Ambassador Wayde van Niekerk will lead for South Africa. A host of further captains will be announced soon.As the world’s largest behaviour change platform linked to insurance, Vitality has a history of using incentives and partnerships to influence and positively change people’s behaviour, in particular around physical activity.Commenting on the Vitality Running World Cup, Discovery

Group Chief Executive and founder of Vitality, Adrian Gore said: “Vitality has successfully been incentivising people to move more for over 20 years, and the Vitality Running World Cup is an exciting new initiative linked directly to our bold commitment to help make 100 million people 20% more active by 2025.We invite everyone to join and become part of our global movement.”The announcement was made at an event hosted by Vitality to launch aground-breaking study on the benefits of regular exercise on economic growth, workforce productivity and life expectancy, evidencing the power of fit bodies to drive fit economies.